A 19-year-old man is dead and at least three others wounded after two separate shootings erupted on the campus of Winston-Salem State University Saturday night — another evening where ordinary Americans sent their kids to school and got carnage instead.
The first shooting hit just before 10 p.m. on the 600 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Police found Peyton Patterson, 19, with a gunshot wound and attempted lifesaving measures, but he died from his injuries. A 22-year-old woman, Alyssa Ellerbee, was also shot, treated at a local hospital, and released. Winston-Salem police say the shooting stemmed from an argument between two groups — not some random act, but a dispute that escalated because someone brought a gun to settle it on educational property.
Police charged 20-year-old Ziyaire Spinks with murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and felony possession of a firearm on educational property. Eighteen-year-old Cequan Brower was charged with affray. Neither suspect was a WSSU student, according to police. Neither was Patterson. Spinks is being held without bond; Brower on $50,000. Police have not released photos of the suspects, citing the ongoing investigation.
While officers were still working that scene, a second shooting rang out at 10:22 p.m. at the intersection of Victory Circle and Cromartie Street — also on campus. Najir Pearsall, 21, was found and listed in critical but stable condition. Makyiah Ward, 20, was also shot and listed in stable condition. No arrests have been made in the second shooting. WXII reported that police have not confirmed whether the victims in the second incident are students.
WSSU canceled Monday classes so students can
