A mass shooting at Leinbach Park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, left two teenage boys dead and five others injured on the morning of April 20, 2026. The Winston-Salem Police Department reported that the violence began as a “scheduled scuffle” or planned fight between two young individuals that escalated rapidly into a shootout involving multiple people. Officers were already en route to the park following reports of a fight in progress at approximately 9:52 a.m. when the call was upgraded to a shooting.
The two fatalities were identified by police as Erubey Romero Medina, 17, and Daniel Jimenez Millian, 16. Five additional victims, ranging in age from 14 to 19, were transported to the hospital with gunshot wounds. These injuries varied from minor to critical, and authorities noted that four of the five surviving victims are female. While Jefferson Middle School and Mount Tabor High School were placed on a secure hold as a precaution, police confirmed the shooting was an isolated incident contained to the park and did not involve a threat to the schools.
The investigation remains active, with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) assisting local authorities. Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn stated that while no suspects are currently in custody, investigators have identified numerous people involved and believe some of the injured individuals may have participated in the exchange of gunfire. Police are working to determine the specific roles of everyone present at the park—whether they were suspects, victims, or witnesses—as they continue to process the scene and review evidence.