Police Captain Kevin Burns said the dead were teenagers, aged 16 and 17, who died at the scene. The remaining injured people are between 14 and 19 years old, and their health condition is described as varying – from light to critical injuries. During the press conference, government officials clarified that four girls were among the five injured.
Police chief 'is furious'
According to the findings so far, many people participating in the meeting opened fire with firearms. Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn said no one has been arrested so far. However, the services believe that some of the people who were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds may have actively participated in the shooting.
“I feel the same as everyone else. I'm frustrated, I'm angry, I'm sad. This didn't have to happen,” William Penn said during a meeting with reporters. The commander added that at the current stage of the investigation it cannot be clearly stated whether the killed teenagers were the direct initiators of the fight or what was the cause of the conflict between the groups.
The tragedy in North Carolina is the second incident involving the use of firearms in the US in recent days. Last Sunday in Louisiana, a perpetrator shot and killed eight children, including seven of his own, before being killed by police. On the same day, there was an exchange of fire in Iowa, in which five people were injured, including three university students.
According to data collected by the Gun Violence Archive website, over 130 mass shootings have been recorded in America since the beginning of 2026. The total number of deaths from gun violence this year has exceeded 5,000. people, including murders, accidents and suicides. The website defines a mass shooting as an event in which at least four people are shot, not including the perpetrator.
