2 killed, 5 injured as planned fight between teens turns into deadly
shooting at North Carolina park
[April 21, 2026]
By ERIK VERDUZCO
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A planned fight among young people escalated
into a mass shooting at a North Carolina park Monday morning that left
two teenage boys dead and five other people injured, authorities said.
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A police mobile command vehicle leaves the the scene of a shooting at
Leinbach Park on Monday, April 20, 2026, in Winston-Salem, N.C. (AP
Photo/Erik Verduzco) |
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Winston-Salem police Capt. Kevin Burns said a 16-year-old and a
17-year-old died at the scene after being shot around 10 a.m. at
Leinbach Park, near a middle school. Five others between the
ages of 14 and 19 were shot and suffered injuries ranging from
critical to minor, Burns said at a news conference. Four of
those victims are female, officials said.
Officials said multiple people fired guns during the shooting.
Winston-Salem police Chief William Penn said no one was in
custody but authorities believe some of those injured may have
also been involved in the shooting.
“I feel like everyone else. I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m sad.
This didn’t have to happen,” Penn said.
Penn said he couldn’t immediately answer whether the teens who
died were the ones scheduled to fight. The police chief also
said “no” when asked if it was known what the fight was about.
Officials said schools near the park were safe.
The shooting happened in a park in a suburban and residential
area northwest of downtown Winston-Salem, a city of about
250,000 known for decades as the home of the R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Co.
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