Asheville crime down in 2026, but firearm assaults increase, police say

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Overall crime in Asheville is down so far this year, while firearm-related aggravated assaults have increased from an unusually low level in 2025, according to Asheville police.

APD reported 224 violent crimes and 2,002 property crimes through July 19, according to year-to-date figures presented to the Public Safety Committee on July 29.

That’s about 3 percent fewer violent crimes and 9 percent fewer property crimes than the same period in 2025, when APD reported 230 violent crimes and 2,194 property crimes.

The violent crime total also remains below the levels recorded during the same periods from 2021 through 2024, when APD reported between 301 and 413 violent crimes.

But gun violence remains a concern for the department.

Firearm assaults increase from 2025

Through week 29, APD reported 55 aggravated assaults involving firearms, compared with 48 during the same period in 2025.

That’s an increase of about 15 percent. However, the 2026 total remains below the 63 to 77 firearm-related aggravated assaults reported during the same periods from 2021 through 2024.

Police said investigators and analysts have found evidence indicating that many of this year’s firearm assaults are retaliatory.

The department did not provide a breakdown showing how many cases were classified as retaliatory.

Asheville has recorded four firearm-related homicides through week 29, compared with three during the same period in 2025 and 2024, according to APD.

The numbers come as Asheville continues to investigate a July 19 shooting on Biltmore Avenue that left two people dead and several others injured. The city confirmed the two deaths following the shooting.

APD’s presentation did not specify whether the July 19 Biltmore Avenue shooting is included in the four firearm-related homicides or the 55 firearm-related aggravated assaults reported through week 29.

APD’s presentation said public assistance remains vital to the investigation and asked anyone with information to contact police.

APD has separately said detectives seized critical physical and digital evidence, identified suspects and co-conspirators and recovered a vehicle believed to have been used in the shooting.

APD said 97 firearms have been seized as evidence so far this year. Several of the weapons had illicit modifications that allowed them to fire automatically, the department said.

Police are working with federal partners to address illegal firearms and firearm modifications.

APD task force officers are embedded with the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals Service. The department also holds monthly gun violence meetings with those agencies, the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, State Bureau of Investigation, Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and prosecutors.

New focus on public housing

APD also highlighted a new team assigned to work with the Housing Authority of the City of Asheville.

The team began work July 6 and has established regular meetings with HACA’s executive leadership, site managers and resident councils, police said.

In its first few weeks, the team seized seven firearms through intelligence-led investigations, including an AK-47 rifle with a high-capacity drum magazine, according to APD.

The team also investigated and made arrests in 12 felony drug cases, police said.

The department did not provide details about where the firearms were seized or how many were connected to violent crimes.

APD said the HACA team is part of a broader effort to work with residents and community partners while addressing longer-term safety concerns.

The department also has assigned community resource officers to patrol districts, with an additional officer designated for high-traffic areas identified under city ordinance.

Those officers will work with patrol officers on longer-term complaints, problem-solving and providing resources, APD said.

Arrests down, citations up

The department also pointed to a shift in enforcement, with first-half arrests down and citations up.

APD reported 1,480 arrests during the first six months of 2026, compared with 1,666 during the same period in 2025.

That represents an approximately 11 percent decline from the same period last year.

APD’s presentation separately said arrests are down 7 percent compared with previous years. The department also said citations have been above normal for the past four quarters and are currently about 1,000 higher than last year.

The department said the data demonstrate its commitment to issuing citations and using diversion options in lieu of arrests when appropriate.

SafeWise ranking uses older data

The APD figures come as Asheville’s crime record has drawn attention from a SafeWise ranking that placed the city near the bottom of its 2026 list of North Carolina’s safest cities.

SafeWise ranked Asheville No. 92 out of 103 North Carolina communities.

The ranking is based on FBI crime data from 2024, meaning it does not reflect Asheville’s 2025 or 2026 year-to-date crime figures.

SafeWise calculates its rankings using violent and property crime rates per 1,000 residents, along with demographic and safety data.

The report put North Carolina’s violent crime rate at 5.49 per 1,000 residents, compared with a national rate of 4.3. The state’s property crime rate was 29.87 per 1,000 residents, compared with a national rate of 22.89.

APD said it was not appropriate for the department to comment on SafeWise’s methodology but provided context on Asheville’s more recent crime trends.

“As of July 19, violent crime is slightly lower than in 2025 and significantly lower than in 2021-2024,” APD said.

The department’s figures show a similar trend for property crime, which has declined from 2,194 cases at this point last year to 2,002 this year.

The difference in the data periods is important. The SafeWise ranking reflects crime reported in 2024, while APD’s year-to-date figures provide a more current snapshot of crime in Asheville.

Still, police say the decline in overall crime does not eliminate the need to address gun violence.

APD said its approach combines targeted enforcement of gun offenders with partnerships among law enforcement agencies, community organizations and residents.

The department continues to seek information about the July 19 Biltmore Avenue shooting.

Anyone with information can contact APD at 828-252-1110. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the TIP2APD app or by texting “TIP2APD” to 847411.