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

Friends, family members and colleagues of 21-year-old international student KartikVasudevgathered at Nathan Phillips Square on Sunday, remembering his life anddemanding answersaround 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 arrivedto find himwith 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,Vasudevarrived in Canada on Jan. 5 after years of planninghis career and a new life here.

Sharma described him as a bright studentwith 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 isshaken.

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

"It should not happen to anyone of us."

'We've lost our young child'

The victim's father, Jitesh Vasudev, speaking from India on Friday evening, said the family is "heartbroken" duringa phone interviewwithCBC 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.

"They were literally in tears, they were not even able to talk properly," Sharma said.

"What they're asking for is at least the reason why he was shot."

Parliament will 'seek justice'

Melissa Lantsman,member of parliament for Thornhill, Ont., spoke at the event, ensuring friends and family that the federal government "knows about this" and will help "seek justice" forVasudev.

"You have our support and we will make sure that the House of Commons in Canada knows aboutKartik, knows about his legacy and knows that international students are welcome here and it's a safe environment for them," she said.

Seneca College says it isoffering 24/7 crisis support for any student who needs it.