High Springs Traffic Stop Nets FBI ‘Most Wanted’ Fugitive

HIGH SPRINGS – A woman added to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list was captured in High Springs less than 24 hours later, authorities said, following a tip-driven search that ended in a routine traffic stop.

KaShawn Nicola Roper, 50, was taken into custody without incident around 10:30 a.m. April 15, 2026, according to officials. The arrest followed a rapid, multi-agency effort involving the High Springs Police Department, Alachua County Sheriff's Office and the United States Marshals Service, working alongside federal investigators.

Roper had been publicly named to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list on April 14, with a reward of up to $1 million offered for information leading to her arrest. Authorities said tips began coming in soon after the announcement, helping investigators quickly zero in on her location in the High Springs area.

Investigators with the FBI’s Jacksonville field office received information suggesting Roper might be in the region and coordinated with local agencies, including the Gainesville Police Department, after receiving information that Roper might be in the region.

“The High Springs Police Department commends the strong collaboration between local and federal law enforcement partners in this case,” Police Chief Antoine Sheppard said, noting the arrest occurred during what began as a routine traffic stop. “This outcome reflects the importance of coordinated efforts, shared intelligence, and mutual trust in protecting our communities.”

“I’m proud of the collaboration that made this arrest possible,” FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley said. “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.”

Roper is accused in connection with an August 2020 shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, in which authorities allege she fired multiple shots into a vehicle during an altercation, striking two women and killing one. She was later charged in Jackson County Circuit Court with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. A federal warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was issued in 2021.

The charges are allegations, and Roper is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said the arrest marks a long-awaited step in the case.

“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. “Six years later, Ms. Roper will now face the full weight of accountability for her alleged actions in 2020.”

Officials credited both coordinated investigative work and public response for the swift outcome. Acting FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Jeff Berkebile said the Ten Most Wanted list remains a critical tool linking law enforcement and the public.

“By fostering a powerful partnership between the public and law enforcement, the list continues to play a vital role in identifying and apprehending dangerous fugitives,” Berkebile said.

According to the FBI, since the list’s creation in 1950, 541 fugitives have appeared on it and 502 have been captured, with 164 apprehensions attributed to public assistance.

Alachua County Sheriff Chad Scott said intelligence-sharing among agencies played a key role in locating Roper.

“Through the skilled and relentless work of our Warrants Investigators, critical intelligence was developed and shared, leading to the capture of an alleged violent fugitive who is now behind bars,” Scott said.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves called the rapid timeline “a testament to the strength and connectivity of American law enforcement.”

Roper is currently incarcerated at the Alachua County jail. Authorities have not released additional details about the traffic stop or the timing of Roper’s extradition to Missouri. The case will proceed through the appropriate courts.

#     #     #

email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com