Police in Asheville, North Carolina, have linked a downtown shooting on July 19 that left two dead and seven injured to retaliatory actions. They stopped short of labeling it as gang-related in the popular tourist area of Blue Ridge.
The incident occurred early at around 2:20 a.m. near Biltmore Avenue and Short Coxe Avenue, close to downtown businesses and nightlife. Asheville Police Department (APD) officers found multiple gunshot victims upon arrival. Two individuals died at the scene despite efforts to save them, and seven others were hospitalized at Mission Hospital. Detectives identified a large crime scene and recovered numerous shell casings.
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In the days following the incident, Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp informed the public the shooting was directly retaliatory, linked to a July 5 shooting at a local apartment complex where one person was shot. Authorities have made an arrest in that case. However, when questioned about the possibility of gang connections, Stepp avoided labeling it as such, noting these were two known groups in ongoing conflict.
During a community briefing, Stepp reiterated the groups knew each other and were involved in continuous retaliatory actions. She confirmed that persons of interest had been identified in the Biltmore Avenue case, but the investigation continued to locate and interview them.
Efforts with local, state, and federal partners are underway as the APD reviews evidence and monitors upcoming public events. Although Stepp mentioned the existence of gang activity, she clarified that the recent shootings did not fit the usual gang activity pattern.
Community responses included a local pastor, identified as a gang-prevention facilitator, questioning the city’s reluctance to consider a prevention program presented in 2016. Mayor Esther Manheimer acknowledged the email and expressed interest in learning more, citing Buncombe County’s community safety plan.
Manheimer also highlighted challenges posed by North Carolina’s relaxed gun laws, which limit local intervention. She noted businesses must increasingly manage the presence of firearms, with disputes often escalating post-weapon retrieval.
Stepp confirmed the involvement of a Glock switch, saying a recovery took place but provided no further details on its origin.
The APD urges anyone with information about the shooting to contact them at 828-252-1110, or submit an anonymous tip through the TIP2APD app or text TIP2APD to 847411.