Anthony Andrew Roper, a 28-year-old male from Asheville, North Carolina, tragically passed away on December 16, 2016. He was a veteran of the US Army and a lifelong resident of Buncombe County. On the night of his death, Roper was found with gunshot wounds to his upper torso at a bar in West Asheville. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospitals.
The investigation into Roper's death revealed that Colton Wayne Halford, a
26-year-old male from Candler, was responsible for the shooting. Halford was found in a parking lot near the bar with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses reported that Halford had shot himself after shooting Roper. Halford was transported to Mission Hospital in critical condition and later stabilized. Once released from the hospital, he was taken into custody at the Buncombe County jail and charged with first-degree murder.
The case against Halford proceeded with him being booked into jail without bond. He was scheduled to appear in Buncombe County District Court on January 19, 2017. The tragic incident left the community in shock, as they mourned the loss of a young man who had served his country and was known for his dedication to his family and faith.
