Police said the attack may have been retaliation for an earlier shooting and that multiple suspects could have been involved.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Two people were killed and seven others were wounded when gunfire erupted early Sunday outside businesses along Biltmore Avenue, prompting an investigation involving Asheville police and federal law enforcement agencies.
Officers responded at about 2:20 a.m. July 19 to the 250 block of Biltmore Avenue after receiving reports of shots fired and multiple people struck, the Asheville Police Department said. Officers found several people with gunshot wounds. Despite emergency medical efforts, two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while seven others were taken to Mission Hospital.
Police had not publicly released the names of the two people who died as of Monday. The department said disclosing their identities could endanger other victims or interfere with the continuing criminal investigation. Authorities also had not announced any arrests or released descriptions of the people suspected of carrying out the shooting.
Asheville Police Deputy Chief Sean Aardema said investigators believe the violence was likely retaliation for a shooting that occurred nearby about a week earlier. One person suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening in that earlier incident. Police have not publicly explained the suspected dispute or identified the people believed to have been involved in either shooting.
Investigators believe a vehicle was involved in Sunday’s attack, Aardema said. Police were reviewing surveillance video collected from businesses in the area and examining evidence recovered from the scene. Authorities were also working to determine whether more than one shooter opened fire.
Evidence indicated that at least one firearm used in the attack had been modified with a device capable of making it fire automatically, Aardema said. Federal agencies were assisting police with tracing the weapon and determining who possessed it. Authorities have not said whether the firearm itself was recovered.
The shooting occurred near Dalton’s Distillery and the adjoining Smile Starters parking lot. Interim Police Chief Jackie Stepp said customers had been leaving the distillery before many gathered in the neighboring parking area, where much of the gunfire occurred. Police collected numerous cartridge casings and other evidence from the scene.
Witnesses told WLOS that they heard about 25 to 30 shots and believed the gunfire came from a passing vehicle. Police have confirmed that a vehicle was likely connected to the attack but have not publicly verified all details of those witness accounts. The number of rounds fired and the exact sequence of events remain under investigation.
Authorities initially reported that two of the seven surviving victims were in critical condition, four were stable and one had been treated and released. A later police update said five were expected to recover, while two remained hospitalized with serious injuries, including one person in critical condition.
The shooting briefly forced authorities to close parts of Biltmore Avenue, Short Coxe Avenue and nearby streets while officers processed the scene. Those roads were later reopened. Investigators said community tips and video from nearby businesses had helped them develop several leads.
Police said they were searching for more than one possible suspect and working with federal partners to identify everyone responsible. The victims’ names, the suspected vehicle and further details about the earlier shooting had not been released as the investigation continued.
Author note: Last updated July 20, 2026.