2 killed, 3 injured in shootings at university and mall in Winston-Salem, NC
Two people were killed and three others were injured in three shootings in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, according to police. Two of the shootings happened during homecoming at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), where one person was killed and three were injured.
Officers assigned to the university’s homecoming events heard gunshots at about 9:46 p.m. Saturday and received a call reporting a shooting on the WSSU campus, Assistant Police Chief Swaim said at a briefing Sunday. Officials said an argument broke out between two groups on campus before shots were fired.
Officers found Peyton Patterson, 19, with gunshot wounds. He died at the scene despite efforts to save him. Alyssa Ellerbee, 22, was also shot and survived.
Ziyaire Spinks, 20, was arrested and charged with murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and possession of a weapon on educational property.
Cequan Brower, 18, was charged with affray, or fighting, and is being held at the Forsyth County jail on a $50,000 bond. Police said neither man was a student at the university.
Officers investigating the killing heard more gunfire at about 10:22 p.m. They responded to Victory Circle at Cromartie Street, where they found two people with gunshot wounds: Makaya Ward, 20, and Nasshir Pearsall, 21.
Police said the shooting involved several people from different groups. No arrests have been made in that case.
Police Chief William Penn Jr. said some university students were involved but did not say whether any of the people shot on campus were students. He also declined to say whether the two campus shootings were connected.
Earlier Saturday, officers responded at about 3:40 p.m. to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of Hanes Mall on Hanes Mall Circle. Jaylin Amir White, 21, was taken to a hospital, where he died.
Police said the mall shooting stemmed from a gambling dispute that began inside the mall and continued into the parking lot. They described it as an isolated incident involving White and one other person. Police Chief William Penn Jr. declined to say whether anyone was in custody.
