ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville police say two people remain in critical condition following a weekend shooting near Biltmore Avenue that left two people dead and seven others injured, while detectives continue working to determine what led to the violence.
The Asheville Police Department provided updated information Monday but said the investigation remains active and many questions have yet to be answered.
According to police, two people died in the shooting, two others remain in critical condition, four are in stable condition and one person was treated and released from the hospital.
Investigators said they recovered at least one firearm and multiple shell casings from the scene. Detectives also collected additional evidence but declined to provide further details, saying releasing that information could compromise the ongoing investigation.
Police have not identified any suspects or persons of interest.
“The investigation remains active and ongoing,” the department said. “Detectives continue to review all available evidence and are working to identify suspects.”
Police declined to answer questions about how many shooters may have been involved, whether any of the victims were bystanders or whether the shooting may be connected to previous acts of gun violence, saying those issues remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Police said the shooting occurred shortly after Dalton Distillery had closed. Detectives continue to investigate the sequence of events and the circumstances leading up to the shooting but have not said whether the incident began at or near the business.
The identities of the two people who were killed have not yet been released. Police said next-of-kin notifications have been completed and the victims’ names will be released at a later time.
Police also explained why one victim remained at the scene for about six hours after the shooting.
According to the department, detectives and forensic technicians worked in coordination with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to process what investigators described as a complex crime scene, ensuring evidence was properly collected and preserved before the victim was removed.
Detectives continue to review all available evidence and are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has photos, videos or other information to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Asheville Police Department at 828-252-1110. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the TIP2APD smartphone app by searching “Asheville PD” in the app store or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.
The investigation remains ongoing. No arrests have been announced.