9 injured when shots erupt at 3:15 am, Asheville police say. Suspect at large

Nine people were hurt when gunfire set off a frenzied scramble for cover on a downtown street, according to investigators in North Carolina.

It happened around 3:15 a.m. Sunday as a group was gathered in the 100 block of North Lexington Avenue in Asheville.

“Upon arrival, officers located multiple injured people among a large crowd fleeing the scene and began to render aid until the arrival of emergency medical personnel,” Asheville police said in a March 9 news release.

“Seven individuals were struck by stray gunfire or fragments during the incident; one was injured while trying to reach safety, and one was physically assaulted, resulting in a concussion.”

All nine received medical treatment and were released. The injuries were “mostly minor,” police said.

Detectives have a person of interest, but have not released a name or a motive for the gunfire.

The 100 block of North Lexington Avenue is lined with shops, restaurants and bars, maps show.

Asheville is about a 130-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published March 10, 2026 at 8:57 AM.