In Asheville, North Carolina, police reported that a shooting downtown, which resulted in two deaths and seven injuries, was a direct retaliatory act. They refrained from calling the incident gang-related in this Blue Ridge tourist town.
The incident occurred early in the morning of July 19 near Biltmore Avenue and Short Coxe Avenue, a hub for downtown businesses and nightlife. Officers from the Asheville Police Department (APD) responded around 2:20 a.m., discovering several individuals with gunshot wounds.
Despite efforts to save lives, two people died at the scene, while seven were transported to Mission Hospital. Investigators found numerous shell casings and noted a large crime scene.
“The latest chapter in an ongoing pattern of retaliatory violence,” said Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp.
Initially, the department suggested the possibility of a connection to a previous gun violence incident. A few days later, Stepp indicated that the attack was a retaliatory act linked to a July 5 shooting at an apartment complex. In that earlier event, one person was shot, and an arrest was made.
When pressed on whether the violence was gang-related, Stepp stated that the individuals involved belonged to groups with personal connections, which had led to ongoing retaliations. She emphasized they were not categorizing the violence as gang-related due to the nature of the involved parties’ connections.
The police identified several persons of interest in the July 19 case and were actively trying to locate and interview them. However, details about whether those shot were the intended targets remain undisclosed due to the ongoing investigation.
APD is working with local, state, and federal agencies to analyze evidence and prepare for forthcoming events and large gatherings. Although gang activity exists in Asheville, Stepp described the recent shootings as not being traditional gang activity.
During a community briefing, a local pastor voiced concerns about preventing gang violence, mentioning a program he had introduced to the city in 2016. Mayor Esther Manheimer acknowledged his email and expressed a willingness to explore his proposal while emphasizing Buncombe County’s existing safety and prevention strategies.
Manheimer cited challenges caused by North Carolina’s relaxed gun laws, affecting how cities manage gun-related issues. She noted that businesses must increasingly prevent patrons from bringing firearms into their premises, given disputes often intensify outside before reaching establishments.
When questioned about a Glock switch, Stepp affirmed its recovery, though she did not specify its origin within the investigation scene.
The APD encourages anyone with information on the shooting to contact 828-252-1110, use the TIP2APD app for anonymous tips, or text TIP2APD to 847411.