Winston-Salem Shooting Today-A quiet Monday morning in Winston-Salem turned into one of the most heartbreaking days the city has seen in recent memory. Two teenage boys are dead, and five more teenagers are recovering from gunshot wounds — all because a planned fight in a suburban park spiraled into a mass shooting. If you’re searching for answers about the shooting in Winston-Salem today, here’s everything we know, laid out clearly and honestly.
What Happened at Leinbach Park This Morning?
It started as a fight. That’s the part that makes this so hard to wrap your head around.
At 9:52 a.m. on Monday, April 20, 2026, Winston-Salem police received a call about a fight in progress at Leinbach Park on Sally Kirk Road, in a quiet residential and suburban neighborhood northwest of downtown. Officers were already on their way when the call changed — shots had been fired, and multiple people were down.
By the time they arrived, the situation had gone from a brawl to a massacre.
The Timeline: From a Planned Fight to Gunfire in Minutes
Here’s how the morning unfolded:
- 9:52 a.m. — Winston-Salem Police Department receives a call reporting a fight at Leinbach Park
- Shortly before 10 a.m. — Officers are alerted mid-response that shots are being fired and multiple people have been hit
- ~10:00 a.m. — Officers arrive to find two teenagers dead at the scene and multiple others wounded
- Before noon — Jefferson Middle School and Mount Tabor High School are placed on secure hold as a precaution
- Early afternoon — NCSBI confirms the scene is secured; all inquiries directed to WSPD
- 4:00 p.m. — Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn holds a press conference with Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough and District Attorney Jim O’Neill
The fight involved two groups of young people who had apparently arranged to meet at the park. It wasn’t spontaneous. It was planned. And someone — likely more than one person — brought guns.
Where Exactly Did the Shooting Take Place?
Leinbach Park sits at Sally Kirk Road in the northwest part of Winston-Salem, right next to Jefferson Middle School. It’s the kind of park families use on weekends — trails, green space, a parking lot. It’s not in a high-crime area. It borders a middle school. And on Monday morning, it became a crime scene that stretched from the parking lot deep into the park.
Additional shooting victims were also found in the parking lot at 3474 Robinhood Road nearby, all with gunshot wounds. Road closures were put in place at Norman Road at Robinhood Road and at Sally Kirk Road at Norman Road. The park remains closed until further notice.
Who Were the Victims of the Winston-Salem Park Shooting?
The Two Teen Boys Who Lost Their Lives
Two teenagers were pronounced dead at the scene. They didn’t make it to the hospital.
Erubey Romero Medina, 17, was found in the parking lot of Leinbach Park. He had been shot and was declared dead on the scene.
Daniel Jimenez Millian, 16, was found further inside the park. He, too, had been shot and did not survive. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools confirmed that Daniel was a student in the district.
Two young men. Two families who woke up Monday morning not knowing they’d never see their sons come home.
The Five Teenagers Who Were Injured
Five more teenagers were shot and taken for medical care, with injuries described as ranging from critical to minor. Here’s what we know about the injured victims:
- A 14-year-old female
- A 15-year-old female
- A 17-year-old female
- A 19-year-old female
- An 18-year-old male
One of the injured reportedly made their way to a nearby YMCA seeking help, where CPR was performed. The names of the minors aren’t being released because of their ages. The adult victim’s name is also being withheld due to the pending investigation into their potential involvement.
How a Planned Fight Became a Mass Shooting
This wasn’t a random act of violence. According to police, two groups of young people had arranged in advance to meet at Leinbach Park and fight. That kind of premeditation is disturbing enough. But what happened next is what law enforcement officials say reflects a dangerous shift in how youth conflicts unfold.
The fight escalated. Guns came out. And multiple people started firing.
Multiple Guns, Multiple Shooters
Police confirmed that multiple people fired weapons during the incident. This wasn’t one person with a gun — it was a gunfight involving several individuals in a public park next to a middle school.
That detail matters. It tells you this wasn’t an impulsive shooting by a bystander. Multiple people came to this fight armed and willing to use those weapons.
Why Authorities Believe Some Victims Were Also Involved
Captain Kevin Burns said something at the press conference that’s worth understanding: “Preliminary information indicates that some of those injured may have also been involved in the shooting.”
What does that mean? It means the investigation is trying to figure out who was a victim, who was a suspect, and who was both. In a chaotic multi-person gunfight, those lines can blur. Some of the people who got shot may have also been shooting. That’s part of why no arrests had been announced by Monday evening — detectives are still piecing together everyone’s role.
Police also confirmed they believe more people were present during the fight than the seven who were shot. Many of them have scattered, and investigators are working to track them down.
Schools Near the Scene — What Parents Need to Know
What “Secure Hold” Actually Means (It’s Not the Same as a Lockdown)
Both Jefferson Middle School and Mount Tabor High School were placed on a “secure hold” shortly after the shooting. A lot of parents panicked when they heard this — and that’s understandable. But a secure hold is different from a full lockdown.
In a secure hold, the school continues operating normally inside. Students stay in classrooms, lessons continue, and no one is allowed to enter or exit the building. It’s a precautionary measure used when there’s a potential threat in the surrounding area — not inside the school itself.
Police were clear: the shooting did not happen on school property. It happened in the adjacent park.
Jefferson Middle School and Mount Tabor High School Updates
Both schools were briefly restricted but remained open and operational. Parents who were worried had the option to come pick up their children. The scene was secured by early afternoon, and normal school operations resumed.
Counseling Resources Available for Students Starting Tuesday
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools announced that school counselors will be available at both Jefferson Middle School and Mount Tabor High School starting Tuesday, April 21. If your child is struggling with what happened — whether they knew the victims, witnessed something, or are simply shaken — please encourage them to speak with a counselor.
What Police and Officials Said at the Press Conference
The 4 p.m. press conference on Monday wasn’t just an update on facts. It was a plea. Law enforcement officials weren’t just angry — they were heartbroken.
Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn’s Message to Parents
Chief Penn didn’t hold back. He spoke directly to parents and to young people alike.
“Stay away from the fights. It’s not the same as it used to be. I know I sound like the grumpy old man when I say that, but these fights now lead to weapons, and shootings, and videos. And we don’t come back from that.”
He also pointed to cellphones as part of the problem — not just weapons. Having cameras present, he said, changes how young people behave and escalates situations that might otherwise have stayed small.
“I feel like everyone else,” Penn said. “I’m frustrated. I’m angry. I’m sad. This didn’t have to happen.”
Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough on Guns and Youth
Sheriff Kimbrough’s words were stark and direct: “There is no shortage of guns in our community. There is no shortage. At the same time, there is no gun sensitivity amongst our youth. And I’m telling you, they’re using guns like they use their cellphones: indiscriminately.”
That image — guns used as casually as scrolling a phone — is a haunting one. And it reflects a crisis that isn’t unique to Winston-Salem, but that Winston-Salem is confronting head-on today.
District Attorney Jim O’Neill’s Plea to Families
Jim O’Neill, the Forsyth County District Attorney, ended the press conference with an emotional appeal that many parents will feel in their bones: “There’s incredible sadness and tragedy in the homes of our neighbors tonight, and it all could have been averted. I ask you to please, please speak with your children … so we don’t lose more children.”
Are There Any Suspects in Custody?
As of Monday evening, no. There are no suspects in custody.
Chief Penn said the investigation is actively ongoing and declined to comment on potential charges. That’s significant — it means the legal picture is still developing. Some of those involved are juveniles, and juvenile charges in North Carolina follow a different process than adult criminal proceedings.
NCSBI confirmed by early afternoon that the scene itself was secured and that several victims and suspects had been identified and located — but suspects remain outstanding as of the latest update.
The Ongoing Investigation — What We Know So Far
Here’s the current status of the investigation:
- The Winston-Salem Police Department is the lead investigating agency
- The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) responded to assist
- Several individuals — both victims and suspects — have been identified
- Some suspects are still outstanding
- Police do not believe the shooting was gang-related
- The cause or motive of the original fight is still unknown
How to Submit a Tip to Winston-Salem Police
If you were at Leinbach Park Monday morning, or if you know anything about this shooting, law enforcement is urging you to come forward. You can contact:
- Winston-Salem Police Department: 336-773-7700
- Crime Stoppers: 336-727-2800 (anonymous tips accepted)
The Bigger Picture — Youth Violence in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County
This shooting didn’t come out of nowhere. Winston-Salem, like many mid-size American cities, has been grappling with rising youth violence — and with the question of how to stop young people from resolving conflicts with guns.
How Social Media Is Changing the Nature of Teen Fights
Chief Penn touched on something that deserves more attention: cellphones aren’t just recording violence — they may be amplifying it. Fights that get posted on social media become performances. They attract audiences. They create pressure to “show up” and “not back down.” What might have once stayed as a verbal argument can now be scheduled like an event — and when guns are involved, those scheduled events become potential death sentences.
The Leinbach Park shooting is, in part, a story about how online culture is bleeding into real-world violence. Two groups of young people planned this. They showed up. And now two of them are dead.
What the Community Can Do Right Now
Law enforcement officials gave parents a clear directive on Monday: talk to your kids. That’s not a platitude — it’s the most direct intervention available to most families right now. Here’s what you can do:
- Ask your children directly if they know about planned fights or confrontations
- Make it clear that walking away is always an option — and that “backing down” isn’t the same as losing
- Check in with children about who they’re spending time with and what’s being shared in their social media circles
- Report anything suspicious to Crime Stoppers anonymously at 336-727-2800
- Support community organizations in Winston-Salem working on youth intervention and gun violence prevention
Frequently Asked Questions About the Winston-Salem Shooting Today
Who was shot in the Winston-Salem shooting today? Seven people were shot at Leinbach Park on Monday, April 20, 2026. Two teenage boys — Erubey Romero Medina, 17, and Daniel Jimenez Millian, 16 — were killed. Five others between the ages of 14 and 19 were injured, including four girls and one boy.
What is Leinbach Park and where is it located? Leinbach Park is a public park located on Sally Kirk Road in the northwestern part of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It sits directly adjacent to Jefferson Middle School and is in a residential, suburban neighborhood.
Was the Winston-Salem shooting gang-related? No. Police stated at the Monday afternoon press conference that they do not believe the shooting was gang-related.
Are there any suspects in custody for the Leinbach Park shooting? As of Monday evening, no suspects have been taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing, and both the Winston-Salem Police Department and the NCSBI are actively working to identify and locate those responsible.
What schools were on lockdown because of the Winston-Salem shooting? Jefferson Middle School and Mount Tabor High School were placed on a “secure hold” — which is not a full lockdown — as a precautionary measure while police responded. Both schools remained open and continued normal operations.
What was the fight about that led to the Winston-Salem shooting? Police say the cause of the original fight is not yet known. Chief Penn said “no” when directly asked if officers knew what the dispute was about.
Were the teens who died the ones who planned to fight? Police Chief William Penn said he couldn’t immediately answer that question when asked at the press conference. It remains part of the active investigation.
What should I do if I have information about the Winston-Salem park shooting? You can call the Winston-Salem Police Department directly at 336-773-7700, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 336-727-2800. All tips are taken seriously, and anonymous submissions are accepted through Crime Stoppers.