Police believe the attack involved a vehicle and may have been retaliation for a nearby shooting one week earlier.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Two people were killed and seven others were wounded when gunfire erupted early Sunday outside businesses along Biltmore Avenue, setting off a search for multiple possible suspects and a joint investigation involving local and federal authorities.
Asheville police officers responded at about 2:20 a.m. July 19 to the 250 block of Biltmore Avenue after receiving reports that several people had been shot. Officers found multiple victims at what police described as a large crime scene. Two people were pronounced dead despite emergency medical efforts, while seven survivors were taken to Mission Hospital.
Investigators believe the shooting was not random and was likely retaliation for another shooting that occurred nearby about one week earlier, Asheville Police Deputy Chief Sean Aardema said. One person suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening in the earlier incident. Police have not publicly explained the dispute or identified the people believed to have been involved in either shooting.
Authorities had not released the names of the two people killed as of Monday. Police said making the identities public could threaten the safety of other victims and interfere with the criminal investigation. No arrests had been announced, and officials had not released descriptions of the suspected shooters or the vehicle believed to have been involved.
Five of the seven surviving victims were expected to recover, Aardema said. Two remained hospitalized with serious injuries, including one person who was in critical condition. Police initially said two victims were in critical condition, four were stable and one had been treated and released before providing the later update.
The shooting occurred outside Dalton’s Distillery and in the neighboring Smile Starters parking lot. Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp said customers had been leaving the distillery before many gathered in the parking area, where investigators believe much of the gunfire occurred. Detectives and forensic technicians collected numerous cartridge casings and other evidence.
Investigators believe a vehicle was connected to the attack and are reviewing surveillance video gathered from nearby businesses. Police were also trying to determine whether more than one person opened fire. Witnesses reported hearing about 25 to 30 shots and said the gunfire appeared to come from a passing vehicle, though police had not confirmed every part of those accounts.
Evidence recovered from the scene indicated that at least one firearm used in the shooting had been fitted with a device capable of allowing automatic fire, Aardema said. Federal law enforcement agencies were helping police trace the weapon and determine who may have possessed it. Authorities had not said whether the firearm itself was recovered.
The shooting led police to temporarily close sections of Biltmore Avenue, Short Coxe Avenue and nearby streets while investigators processed the scene. The roads were later reopened. Police said surveillance recordings and information provided by members of the community had helped investigators develop several leads.
City officials offered condolences to the victims and their families following the shooting. Mayor Esther Manheimer and City Manager Debra Campbell said the violence had caused grief across the community and pledged support for the investigation and those affected by the attack.
Police were continuing to search for more than one possible suspect and said the investigation would continue until those responsible were identified. The victims’ identities, details about the suspected vehicle and additional information about the earlier shooting remained undisclosed.
Author note: Last updated July 20, 2026.