2 suspects charged after deadly shooting at Winston-Salem State University

One person was killed and three others injured in separate Saturday night shootings, prompting canceled classes at the North Carolina HBCU.

A 19-year-old man was killed and three other people were injured in two separate shootings at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 7, prompting the university to cancel classes the following day.

As reported by WXII 12 News, police identified the person killed in the first shooting as Peyton Patterson. A 22-year-old woman, Alyssa Ellerbee, was also shot and taken to a local hospital, where she was treated and released. According to Winston-Salem police, officers responded to the 600 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive shortly after 9:45 p.m. after hearing gunfire. Patterson was found with a gunshot wound. Despite lifesaving efforts by officers and emergency medical personnel, he died from his injuries.

Winston-Salem State University officials later clarified that Patterson was not a WSSU student, although they acknowledged the tragedy’s impact on the university and surrounding community. Police charged 20-year-old Ziyaire Spinks with murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, and felony possession of a firearm on educational property.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Winston-Salem State University (@wssu1892)

An 18-year-old, Cequan Brower, was also charged with affray in connection with the incident. Investigators said the victims and suspects were part of two separate groups when an argument broke out, leading to the shooting. Neither suspect was identified as a WSSU student. Spinks is being held without bond, while Brower is being held on a $50,000 bond. Both were expected to appear in court Monday, Nov. 9.

A second shooting occurred at approximately 10:22 p.m. near the intersection of Victory Circle and Cromartie Street. Police found 21-year-old Najir Pearsall and 20-year-old Makyiah Ward with gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a hospital. Pearsall was listed in critical but stable condition, while Ward was reported to be in stable condition. Investigators identified a vehicle connected to the second incident and later located it. However, no arrests had been announced in connection with this incident as of the latest report.

In response to the shootings, Winston-Salem State University canceled all classes scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9. The university said classes would resume Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 8 a.m., while administrative offices and other campus operations remained open. In a statement, WSSU officials expressed sympathy for those affected and thanked the community for their support.