After four shootings in one week, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and Police Chief Mike Lamb released a joint statement on the “recent spike of gun violence in our community,” in which no arrests have yet been made.
“We are deeply saddened by the incidents and are keeping those injured in our thoughts as they receive care,” the statement read. “The community and residents of Asheville deserve better than to face the threat of gun violence in their neighborhoods and outdoor spaces. As a community, we must stand together — not only in times of crisis, but in our ongoing efforts to promote peace and safety for all.”
There were shootings at Ascot Point apartments, the Hillcrest apartments, and two in the Shiloh community, which resulted in three critical injuries. All of them appeared to be drive-bys, Lamb said.
One of the Shiloh shootings took place at the basketball courts while summer camp was in session at the nearby community center, injuring a 14-year-old and a man in his mid-20s, the latter who remains in critical care at Mission Hospital, Lamb said. No campers were injured.
In response, the City of Asheville temporarily closed the Shiloh Crump Community Center to the public, but continued summer programs. It will reopen Saturday.
The Asheville Police Department will increase its presence in places where gun violence has occurred, Lamb said.
He told BPR he believes that all four incidents are connected and may involve “criminal organizations that are involved in the sale of illegal narcotics.”
“We're hearing that there's plans for retaliation from some of these shootings, and so that's what has prompted the joint statement,” he said, adding that the conflict seems to be occurring between “a few individuals who have a beef with each other.”
It’s because of this alleged connection, Manheimer told BPR, that she felt it was necessary to comment publicly on the situation.
“We felt like it was necessary to come together and address this current situation and call on the community to help us fight crime and notify the police when and if they are aware of a crime – or a crime that may be committed – so that we can bring an end to this recent string of shootings.”
Despite these recent incidents, violent crime has declined this year, Lamb told BPR. Earlier this year, Lamb reported that violent crime was at a five-year-low. He described the recent string of shootings as “rare, especially this year.”
“The reason that I say that is because we've only had two homicides so far this year,” he said.
In 2024, homicides reached an all-time high of 13.
The number of calls to police for shootings or gun discharge so far in 2025 is about the same as the number of incidents recorded at this time last year (243 compared to 248), according to data from Rick Rice, Asheville Police Department spokesperson.
Over the last two years, there have been an average of between eight and nine gun discharge calls for service per week. Over the last four weeks, the average has been 11 per week, Rice said.
See the full joint statement from Lamb and Manheimer below.
“Our hearts are with the victims, families, and community members affected by the recent spike of gun violence in our community.
We are deeply saddened by the incidents and are keeping those injured in our thoughts as they receive care. The community and residents of Asheville deserve better than to face the threat of gun violence in their neighborhoods and outdoor spaces. As a community, we must stand together — not only in times of crisis, but in our ongoing efforts to promote peace and safety for all.
Our thanks go out to the Asheville Police Department (APD) officers and City staff who responded quickly, keeping residents and children safe from further harm during the recent event in the Shiloh neighborhood.
The APD continues its active investigation and is leveraging its partnerships with the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Buncombe County District Attorney’s Office, SBI, as well as both state and federal probation and parole agencies. Together, these partners form our Gun Violence Task Force, which focuses its efforts on identifying and prosecuting repeat violent gun offenders. In addition, the APD is increasing police presence in areas where gun violence occurs.
As members of the community, we call on all of Asheville to work together to stop gun violence before it happens. Addressing it requires more than the dedication of our police department; it requires the active collaboration of city leaders, community members, and organizations working together to find solutions. By community members sharing information and cooperating with police, we can prevent retaliation, solve crimes more quickly, and create safer neighborhoods for everyone.
Together, we must all remain committed to building a stronger, safer Asheville.”
