Woman on FBI's Ten Most Wanted List Arrested Hours After Tip-Off in Florida

KaShawn Nicola Roper was wanted for a 2020 fatal shooting in Missouri

Apr. 15, 2026 at 8:55pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a handgun magazine against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the investigative process behind the arrest of a dangerous fugitive.The arrest of a high-profile fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list highlights the investigative power of forensic evidence and the importance of public cooperation.Kansas City Today

A woman who had been on the run for nearly six years after allegedly shooting two people, one fatally, in Missouri in 2020 was arrested in Florida just hours after being added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. The arrest came after the FBI received multiple tips from Florida on Wednesday morning about a person resembling Roper's description quickly packing a vehicle with belongings.

Why it matters

The quick capture of Roper, who had evaded authorities for nearly six years, highlights the effectiveness of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted program in generating public tips that can lead to the apprehension of high-profile fugitives. It also underscores the importance of coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement in tracking down and arresting dangerous suspects.

The details

According to the FBI, Roper, 50, was wanted for allegedly firing multiple shots at a car in Missouri in August 2020, striking two women, one fatally. After the FBI added her to the Ten Most Wanted list on Tuesday, the agency received multiple tips from Florida on Wednesday morning about a person resembling Roper's description quickly packing a vehicle with belongings. Law enforcement partners rapidly coordinated, and using the description of the vehicle, conducted a traffic stop and took Roper into custody.

  • Roper was wanted for a shooting incident that occurred in August 2020 in Missouri.
  • Roper was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on Tuesday, April 15, 2026.
  • Roper was arrested in Florida on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, just hours after being added to the Ten Most Wanted list.

The players

KaShawn Nicola Roper

A 50-year-old woman who was wanted for a fatal shooting in Missouri in 2020 and was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list before being arrested in Florida just hours later.

Kash Patel

The FBI Director, who praised the work of the FBI and its state and local partners in apprehending Roper.

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What they’re saying

“KaShawn Roper was on the run for nearly six years. Hours after we added her to the Ten Most Wanted list, tips poured in and our partners had her in custody.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director

What’s next

Roper will be extradited to Missouri to face charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon, as well as a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

The takeaway

The swift capture of Roper, a high-profile fugitive on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list, demonstrates the power of public tips and the coordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement in apprehending dangerous suspects who have evaded justice for years.