International student killed at Sherbourne station remembered as 'hard-working, ambitious' at vigil

Friends, family members and colleagues of 21-year-old international student Kartik Vasudev gathered at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, remembering his life — and demanding answers around the circumstances of his death. 

"He was an innocent child," said Ritik Sharma, president of the Seneca Student Federation. 

Vasudev, a first-semester marketing management student at Seneca College, was heading to his part-time job on Thursday around 5 p.m., when he was gunned down at Sherbourne subway station. 

Officers arrived to find him with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital where he later died. 

Police have made no arrests and have released no information on suspects so far. They're asking any witnesses to come forward.

Originally from India, Vasudev arrived in Canada on Jan. 5 after years of planning his career and a new life here.

Sharma described him as a bright student with a big future. 

"I hope each and everyone remembers him as a hard-working, ambitious, and inspiring international student," he said. 

An international student himself, Sharma said he — along with the entire school community — is shaken.

"Students, they feel so sad right now — they are in deep sorrow," he said.

"It should not happen to anyone of us." 

The victim's father, Jitesh Vasudev, speaking from India on Friday evening, said the family is "heartbroken" during a phone interview with CBC News.

"What can you feel? We've lost our young child over there," he said. "My son was polite, humble, a sweet child. Why was my son the target?"

Sharma, who also spoke with the victim's father, reiterated the family's desire for answers.