Police in Asheville, North Carolina, report that a shooting downtown, resulting in two deaths and seven injuries, was a direct act of retaliation. However, they have not labeled the incident as gang-related in this popular tourist area in the Blue Ridge region.
The shooting occurred early on July 19 around Biltmore Avenue and Short Coxe Avenue, near downtown’s businesses and nightlife. Officers from the Asheville Police Department (APD) arrived at the scene at approximately 2:20 a.m., finding multiple victims with gunshot wounds. Tragically, two individuals died at the location despite emergency efforts, while seven others were hospitalized, according to authorities. Detectives discovered numerous shell casings and a vast crime scene.
Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp explained that investigations revealed the shooting as a retaliatory act linked to a previous gun violence incident on July 5 at an apartment complex. In that incident, one person was shot, and an arrest was made. At a community briefing on July 24, Stepp described the recent violence as part of a pattern of retaliatory acts citywide. Despite questions from reporters, she did not classify the acts as gang-related, stating that the involved groups were individuals familiar with each other and engaged in continuous acts of retaliation.
The police chief mentioned several persons of interest in the Biltmore Avenue case but indicated that efforts were ongoing to locate them for interviews. She refrained from discussing specific targets or connections between the July shootings, citing the active investigation. Coordination with local, state, and federal partners continues as evidence is reviewed and forthcoming events are monitored.
The issue of gang activity in Asheville arose again when a pastor during the community meeting, identified as a gang-prevention facilitator, highlighted a prevention program he offered the city since 2016. He queried why this program was not previously considered to counteract gang-related issues. In response, Mayor Esther Manheimer acknowledged reading his email and expressed willingness to explore the proposal further. She highlighted Buncombe County’s community safety and violence-prevention plan and ongoing prevention partnerships as current strategies.
Manheimer noted that North Carolina’s relaxed gun laws and local regulation restrictions complicate municipal responses to violence. She pointed out a 31% increase in violent crime in Asheville from 2016 to 2020. Moreover, businesses are increasingly tasked with preventing weapons inside their premises, while disputes often escalate when someone retrieves a weapon from a nearby vehicle.
Additionally, Stepp confirmed that a Glock switch, a device that allows a semi-automatic firearm to function as a fully automatic one, was recovered in connection to the shooting. The specific origins or use within the incident were not detailed.
Authorities urge anyone with information regarding the incident to contact the APD. Tips can be provided via phone at 828-252-1110, through the TIP2APD app, or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.