KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A nearly six‑year manhunt came to a dramatic end on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, when federal and local law enforcement officers arrested 50‑year‑old KaShawn Nicola Roper in High Springs, Florida. Roper, who had been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list just one day earlier with a $1 million reward for information leading to her capture, was taken into custody during a routine traffic stop after a tipster spotted her quickly packing a vehicle with belongings.

She now faces a litany of charges, including second‑degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and a federal count of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, for her alleged role in the August 23, 2020, shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, that left 23‑year‑old Jazmyn Henrion dead and another woman wounded.

The 2020 Crime: A Deadly Shooting in Kansas City

The case began in the early morning hours of August 23, 2020. At approximately 3:35 a.m., Kansas City police were dispatched to a local hospital after two gunshot victims arrived in a private vehicle. One of the victims, 23‑year‑old Jazmyn Henrion, later died from her injuries. A second female victim, who was shot in the shoulder, survived.

According to witness statements and surveillance footage, the shooting occurred outside a residence near 68th Street and Cleveland Avenue in Kansas City. Roper, who was in the roadway, allegedly became confrontational with occupants of a vehicle that had pulled up to the house. Witnesses told police that Roper was talking “crazy” about those inside the vehicle, claiming they were “eyeing” or “mean mugging” her. The driver, aware that Roper was known to carry a gun, asked a passenger to get back in the car. Multiple witnesses then saw Roper reach inside her bag just before gunshots rang out.

Security footage from a nearby home captured Roper pointing a handgun at the vehicle as it was driving away. The same footage showed another individual, identified only as “D,” firing shots into the air and into the ground before Roper fled the scene in an unknown vehicle.

On September 10, 2020, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office charged Roper with second‑degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. A state warrant was issued for her arrest.

Fleeing Justice: Six Years on the Run

Roper did not wait to face the charges. She immediately fled the Kansas City area, prompting investigators to issue a federal arrest warrant on July 1, 2021, for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Over the next six years, Roper remained a ghost, moving between multiple states to evade capture. The FBI said she had ties to Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, and South Dakota.

Despite ongoing efforts by the Kansas City Police Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service, Roper successfully avoided arrest for nearly half a decade. “She has been on the run since,” said Jeff Berkebile, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Kansas City Division, during a press conference on April 14, 2026.

The Turning Point: FBI Adds Roper to Ten Most Wanted List

On April 14, 2026, the FBI, alongside the Kansas City Police Department and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, announced that KaShawn Nicola Roper had been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list — the 541st addition since the list’s creation in 1950. Roper became only the 13th woman ever to appear on the list.

The announcement came with a $1 million reward for information leading to her arrest and conviction. The FBI also released detailed physical descriptors and warned that Roper should be considered armed and dangerous. She is described as a Black female, 5’5” tall, approximately 120 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, pierced ears, and multiple tattoos on her left arm, upper left arm, upper right arm, back, left calf, neck, right wrist, right breast, and abdomen.

At the press conference, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves expressed confidence that the increased attention would lead to an arrest. “For too long, KaShawn Nicola Roper has remained a fugitive and avoided accountability,” Graves said. “With the assistance of the FBI and the attention brought by her addition to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, we are confident she will be apprehended”.

Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson added, “When a life is taken in our community, our commitment to justice does not waver. For nearly five years, this case has remained unresolved, and we are continuing to pursue every lead to bring answers to a grieving family”.

The Tip: A Sharp‑Eyed Bystander in Florida

The $1 million reward and the nationwide publicity worked almost immediately. Within hours of the FBI’s announcement, multiple tips began flooding into the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC). Tipsters described a woman matching Roper’s description who was seen quickly loading belongings into a vehicle in Florida. The suspicious behavior — packing in haste — raised immediate red flags.

Law enforcement tracked the vehicle based on the information provided and coordinated a plan to apprehend the suspect without incident.

The Arrest: Traffic Stop in High Springs

On the morning of April 15, 2026, just one day after Roper was added to the Ten Most Wanted list, officers from the High Springs Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the city of High Springs, Florida — a small town of approximately 7,000 residents located about 75 miles southwest of Jacksonville. The stop occurred just after 10:20 a.m. local time.

Roper was taken into custody without incident. The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort involving the High Springs Police Department, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the FBI.

High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard praised the collaboration, stating: “The High Springs Police Department commends the strong collaboration between local and federal law enforcement partners in this case. This outcome reflects the importance of coordinated efforts, shared intelligence, and mutual trust in protecting our communities. We are especially proud of the professionalism and vigilance demonstrated by our HSPD officers during a routine traffic stop”.

FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley echoed the sentiment: “From the moment we received information that Roper may be in our area, we surged into action, working in lockstep with our law enforcement partners to quickly track, locate and apprehend her”.

FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted the swift resolution on social media, writing: “This is an example of how the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list is supposed to work: public awareness, information, and quick coordination work between partners”. He also noted that Roper’s capture marked the eighth Top Ten fugitive apprehended in just over a year — double the number captured during the previous four‑year period.

Charges and Legal Proceedings

Following her arrest, Roper was booked into the Alachua County Jail on state murder charges. She faces extradition to Missouri, where she will be prosecuted in the 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Jackson County.

The charges against Roper include:

• Second‑degree murder for the death of Jazmyn Henrion.

• Two counts of armed criminal action.

• Unlawful use of a weapon.

• Unlawful flight to avoid prosecution (federal charge).

Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson reaffirmed her office’s readiness to move forward. “Ms. Roper’s arrest is a result of the power of partnership on all levels and the power of a public that refuses to accept violence as a reality,” Johnson said. “Speaking up can keep you and your family and community safe, but also gives a grieving family hope that one day justice will be served”.

Johnson also spoke directly to the victims’ families, reminding them that their loved ones have not been forgotten: “One of them was a young woman, a mother who had her entire life ahead of her. Her life had value and it was taken from her in an instant of senseless violence”.

A Mother’s Life Cut Short

Jazmyn Henrion was just 23 years old at the time of her death. She was a young mother whose life was tragically cut short by gunfire. The case haunted the Kansas City community for nearly six years, but Roper’s addition to the Ten Most Wanted list — and the public’s swift response — finally brought a measure of hope for justice.

Conclusion: The Long Arm of the Law

The arrest of KaShawn Nicola Roper demonstrates the power of public vigilance and interagency cooperation. A $1 million reward, a spot on the FBI’s most exclusive wanted list, and a sharp‑eyed citizen who noticed suspicious behavior all combined to bring a six‑year fugitive to justice in less than 24 hours.