The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has added KaShawn Nicola Roper, a Kansas City woman accused of murder, to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, significantly expanding the national search for a suspect who has been on the run for nearly six years.
The announcement was made on April 14, 2026, by the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office together with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department (KCPD) and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.
With this designation, the FBI is offering a reward of up to $1 million (Ksh129.2 million) for information leading to Roper’s arrest and conviction.
KaShawn Nicola Roper’s Offense
The FBI said Roper is the 541st fugitive added to the list since its creation in 1950.
Roper, 50, is wanted in connection with the August 23, 2020, shooting death of 23-year-old Jazmyn Henrion, a mother of three young children.
According to investigators, Henrion was inside a vehicle with several others when shots were fired into the car during an early-morning incident in Kansas City, Missouri.
Also Read: U.S. Senator Vows to Block Aid to Israel Hours After Italy Suspends Defense Pact
Police said the shooting happened at around 3.30 a.m. near East 68th Street and Cleveland Avenue.
Two women were struck by gunfire. Henrion later died from her injuries after being rushed to the hospital, while the second victim survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
In September 2020, prosecutors in Jackson County charged Roper with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon.
A state warrant was issued for her arrest, but authorities say she fled before authorities could take her into custody.
In July 2021, a federal arrest warrant was also issued after Roper was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Since then, local and federal agencies, including the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service, have continued their efforts to locate her.
Despite years of investigation, law enforcement officials say Roper remains a fugitive.
Authorities initially offered a modest reward for information, which was gradually increased as leads failed to yield an arrest.
Also Read: Trump Reveals Why He Has Not Yet Taken All of Iran’s Oil
The FBI said the decision to place Roper on the Ten Most Wanted list was intended to generate new information and encourage members of the public to come forward.
FBI Issues Info on Roper
The FBI describes Roper as a Black woman, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds.
She has black hair, brown eyes, and numerous tattoos on her arms, back, neck, wrist, calf, chest, and abdomen. She also has pierced ears.
Roper was born in Kansas and previously lived in Kansas City, Missouri. Investigators say she has known ties to several states, including Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Georgia, and South Dakota.
Authorities believe she may have fled to Denver, Colorado, or continued moving between states to avoid arrest.
Law enforcement officials have warned that Roper should be considered armed and dangerous.
They said she is believed to be aware that she is wanted by police and has actively avoided capture for several years.
The FBI said the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives program has historically played a key role in solving major cases, with many fugitives captured after the public provided information following national exposure.
The FBI, KCPD, and partner agencies are urging anyone with information about Roper’s whereabouts to contact the nearest FBI office or local law enforcement agency.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously.
Authorities said even small details could help advance the case and bring long-awaited justice to the victim’s family.
Henrion’s death left three children without their mother, a fact regularly cited by investigators as the case has remained open.
With Roper’s addition to the FBI’s most high-profile fugitives list, officials say the search has entered a new phase and remains active nationwide.
