A former Missouri woman was found in Florida a mere day after the FBI put out a news bulletin about her. KaShawn Nicola Roper, 50, was charged with shooting and killing a young woman in 2020 and injuring another in a fight. Shortly after the shooting, she disappeared from Kansas City and has been on the run ever since. During her time on the run, she could be found in a series of states that included Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, Georgia, and South Dakota. In an attempt to get more people involved in her disappearance, a big reward was offered, and the people didn’t disappoint.
They were offering quite a lot of money in exchange for information.
On April 14, 2026, the FBI announced in a news release that Roper was being added to the its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Additionally, the agency announced that it would offer a $1 million reward for information leading to her arrest and conviction.
“Today is a day that is notable because it reminds the public of its help in solving some of the United States’ most important fugitive cases,” FBI Kansas City acting special agent in charge Jeff Berkebile shared in the release. “The Top Ten list has been an enormous help to the FBI over the years, and we’re confident that this valuable resource will help us locate Ms. Roper. The FBI will not hesitate to bring substantial and lasting resources to ensure that justice is done in Kansas City.”
Roper “should be considered armed and dangerous,” the news release 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,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson shared via in the release.
It didn’t take long for Roper to be found and apprehended.
About 10:30 a.m. on April 15, 2026, Roper was arrested “without incident” in High Springs, Florida, the FBI shared in another news release.
“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,” High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard shared in the release.
Around the same time as the announcement that Roper was put on the Most Wanted List, FBI Jacksonville got word that she was potentially in the area. The agency worked with the Gainesville Police Department to pursue those leads.
Shortly after the FBI shared it would be offering a reward, “credible tips were received which resulted in the apprehension of Roper by the High Springs Police Department,” the second release noted.
She has been on the run for nearly five years.
About 3:30 a.m. August 23, 2020, police were dispatched to a hospital after two gunshot victims were brought in by private car, The Kansas City Star reported. Jazmyn Henrion, 23, died at the hospital, and another woman had a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
Detectives identified Roper as the suspect, and 18 days later she was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon.
Police found out, however, that Roper had left the Kansas City area immediately after the shooting, which prompted a federal arrest warrant. In July 2021, a federal arrest warrant was issued after she was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, the Star reported.
“For far too long, KaShawn Nicola Roper has remained a fugitive and avoided accountability,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said.
Speaking about Roper’s victims, Johnson shared, “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.”
