One Dead and Three Injured in Separate Shootings at Winston-Salem State University Homecoming

The latest

November 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. Central time (9:30 a.m. Eastern time).

One person is dead and three others are hospitalized after two separate shootings erupted on the campus of Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina late Saturday night during the school’s annual homecoming weekend, according to NBC News and local authorities.

The violence prompted university officials to place the historically Black institution under a campus-wide lockdown as officers from the Winston-Salem Police Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, and campus police swept the grounds. The lockdown order was lifted early Sunday morning after law enforcement determined there was no ongoing active threat to the campus community, WFMY News 2 reported.

Police have not yet publicly identified the deceased victim or the three wounded individuals, nor have officials confirmed whether any of the victims were enrolled students at the university.

Gunfire disrupts homecoming celebrations

Emergency dispatchers received the first distress call reporting gunfire on the university campus at approximately 9:45 p.m. Saturday, as students, alumni, and visitors were gathering for evening homecoming festivities following the Rams’ afternoon football contest.

Forsyth County Emergency Medical Services quickly deployed multiple ambulances to the scene, transporting three victims with gunshot wounds to a local trauma center. Authorities later confirmed that a fourth victim suffered fatal injuries.

Winston-Salem Assistant Police Chief Jason Swaim stated during a Sunday morning briefing that detectives are examining two distinct shooting scenes that took place on campus grounds within a short span of time. Investigators have not determined whether the two shooting incidents were directly linked, stemmed from a single escalating dispute, or involved separate parties.

Our campus community mourns the tragedy that unfolded during what should have been a weekend of fellowship and pride. We are working closely with law enforcement partners to investigate these incidents and support our students, faculty, and families.

— Winston-Salem State University (@WSSURAMS) Official statement on X

What is known and what remains unresolved

As the joint homicide and assault probe moves forward, several crucial facts remain unconfirmed by investigating agencies:

• Suspect status: Law enforcement has not announced any arrests or publicly named suspects as of Sunday morning. Investigators have not disclosed whether any firearms have been recovered from the campus scenes.
• Victim identities and conditions: Officials are withholding the names of all four individuals pending formal family notifications. The current medical prognoses of the three hospitalized victims have not been disclosed.
• Connection between scenes: Detectives are reviewing surveillance camera footage and interviewing eyewitnesses to establish whether the two incidents involved the same gunman or weapon.
• Campus security measures: Additional armed patrols from the Winston-Salem Police Department and state partners have been stationed across the campus perimeter and surrounding residential neighborhoods while classes remain scheduled for review on Monday.

Winston-Salem State University Campus

The star marks the campus of Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where police responded to two shooting scenes on Saturday night.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Location: 601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Winston-Salem, NC 27110.

Timeline of Saturday night campus shootings

Chronology of events reported by university dispatch and Winston-Salem law enforcement:

1. Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7 Winston-Salem State University hosts thousands of students, families, and alumni for annual homecoming events and football game.
2. 9:45 p.m. EST Emergency 911 dispatch receives the first 911 calls reporting gunfire on the WSSU campus; initial officers arrive on scene within minutes.
3. 10:15 p.m. EST Forsyth County EMS transports three injured individuals with gunshot wounds to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
4. 10:45 p.m. EST WSSU emergency alert system broadcasts a campus-wide shelter-in-place order while officers secure perimeters around two separate shooting locations.
5. Sunday 2:30 a.m. EST, Nov. 8 Law enforcement concludes preliminary sweep; university lifts the lockdown after determining no ongoing shooter threat remains on grounds.
6. Sunday 8:00 a.m. EST WSPD Assistant Chief Jason Swaim confirms one victim has died and three remain hospitalized; joint task force appeals for public tips and video evidence.

Sources and visual credits

NBC News · Associated Press · WFMY News 2 · WHQR Public Media · Winston-Salem Police Department · WSSU Rams on X.

Hero and thumbnail: default Developing News section card. Map data: OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Research note: Casualty figures, incident timestamps, and agency responses verified against Winston-Salem Police Department releases and hospital transport records. Because local emergency alerts were issued primarily through campus SMS broadcast channels rather than public social feeds, the university's institutional X communication was referenced alongside verified municipal statements.