Three people were rushed to the hospital after a shooting on the campus of Winston-Salem State University, and police say the investigation remains active with no word yet on how the victims are doing. The Winston-Salem Police Department received a call around 9:45 p.m. reporting gunfire on campus, setting off a scramble of first responders to the historically Black university in the heart of the city.
The Winston-Salem Police Department confirmed that a shooting had occurred on the university's campus, according to WXII 12 News. Forsyth County EMS transported three victims to the hospital, though officials said they could not share the victims' condition. As of the station's report, the investigation was still ongoing and reporters were working to obtain more information.
Details Remain Scarce as Investigation Continues
Much about Friday night's shooting is still unknown. Officials have not released the ages, identities, or university affiliations of the three people hospitalized, nor have they said whether a suspect has been identified. The exact location on campus and the circumstances that led to the gunfire have also not been made public, and the same account notes that information was still being gathered as of the latest update.
This is not the first time gunfire has disrupted life at Winston-Salem State University. In a previous incident, authorities found a victim who had been shot in a study room in Rams Commons 3, and WSSU officials said at the time that the victim was not a student, according to wxii12.com. In a separate residence-hall shooting reported on Feb. 12, police said uncooperative witnesses had hampered their ability to determine what led to that incident, per myfox8.com.
Campus Shootings Have Hit Other Universities Too
Winston-Salem State is not alone among college campuses grappling with gun violence this fall. At Virginia State University, a shooting was reported near Gateway Moore and Gateway Hall around 9:23 p.m. on a Monday night, prompting the university to put the campus on lockdown shortly after, according to wtvr.com. A male VSU student was shot in the leg in that incident and was sent to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, the outlet reported.
Back in Winston-Salem, authorities have not said whether Friday night's shooting is connected to any prior incidents on or near campus. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not indicated when more details about the victims or any potential suspect might be released.
