Mass Shooting at Winston-Salem’s Leinbach Park Leaves 2 Dead After Planned Fight Escalates, SBI Says
Winston-Salem, North Carolina – April 20, 2026 — Two people have died following a mass shooting at Leinbach Park in Winston-Salem, according to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Authorities say the violence stemmed from a planned fight that quickly escalated into gunfire involving multiple individuals.
The Winston-Salem Police Department reported that the incident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. on Monday when a confrontation between two young individuals escalated, leading “multiple individuals” to begin shooting at one another. Officials confirmed that several victims were injured, though the total number has not yet been determined.
Law enforcement stated that juveniles were among those involved in the incident, both as victims and suspects. Several individuals connected to the shooting have already been identified and located, while efforts continue to account for everyone involved due to the number of people present.
The shooting took place at Leinbach Park, located near Jefferson Middle School. Authorities confirmed that the school was not directly affected and continued normal operations throughout the incident.
In response, police closed multiple nearby roads, including Norman Road at Robinhood Road and Sally Kirk Road at Norman Road, as emergency crews secured the area and conducted their investigation.
Officials have described the shooting as an isolated incident, though the investigation remains ongoing under the direction of local law enforcement and the SBI.
This developing story continues to be under active investigation, with authorities expected to release further updates as more information becomes available.