Kansas City woman listed on FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List captured in Florida
HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. (KQTV) -- A Kansas City, Missouri woman was captured in High Springs, Florida, barely one day after being put on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List.
KaShawn Nicola Roper, 50, had been on the run since 2020 for shooting and killing a female victim in Kansas City.
The FBI announced Roper's addition to the List Tuesday and that it was offering a $1 million reward for information or her capture.
Around the same time of the announcement, FBI Jacksonville received information regarding Roper's potential location in the area and began to pursue investigative leads with assistance from the Gainesville Police Department.
Just after 10:20 a.m. Wednesday, the High Springs Police Department stopped a vehicle containing a subject believed to be associated with an active federal fugitive investigation.
Roper was apprehended by HSPD with assistance from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Office. The arrest was done in partnership with the Alachua County Warrants Unit Task Force.
"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," High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard said.
"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. 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," said Melesa Johnson, Jackson County prosecutor.
Kansas City Missouri Police Chief, Stacey Graves, shared similar sentiments, bragging on the strength and coordination that law enforcement and the public showed.
"I am proud of the great work of all law enforcement involved which culminated in the swift capture of Roper. Furthermore, I am thankful for the longstanding partnership between the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and the FBI," Graves said.
In a news release, the FBI said it will not confirm the identity of the individuals who assisted the FBI, or share whether or not the money is paid, to whom and in what amounts. The anonymity serves as a way to protect the privacy of individuals and to ensure the public's continued cooperation and incentivization for further assistance.
Roper's apprehension marks the 502nd fugitive apprehended after being listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List and the 164th as a result of citizen cooperation.
