Man charged with murder after Winston-Salem State shooting
Police charged Ziyaire Spinks with murder after a homecoming-weekend shooting killed Peyton Patterson and injured a woman at Winston-Salem State University.
- Development
- 8 November 2026
- Coverage
- Charges filed
- Current status
- Charges pending
- Source record
- 4 verified sources
Murder charge follows campus shooting
Winston-Salem police arrested 20-year-old Ziyaire Spinks on November 8 after a shooting at Winston-Salem State University killed 19-year-old Peyton Patterson and injured a 22-year-old woman. Police charged 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.
Spinks, who is not a university student, was held without bond after his arrest. No defense attorney or plea was identified in the initial reports. The charges are allegations, and prosecutors must prove them beyond a reasonable doubt before a conviction can be entered. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Gunfire followed an argument during homecoming weekend
Officers assigned to homecoming events heard gunfire at about 9:45 p.m. on November 7. They found Patterson with a gunshot wound and attempted lifesaving measures, but he died at the scene. The wounded woman was treated at a hospital and released.
Investigators said an argument between two groups preceded the shooting. Police have not released a full account of what caused the confrontation, who possessed weapons before shots were fired or what evidence identifies Spinks as the person criminally responsible. Those questions will be tested through court filings and hearings. [3] [4]
A second campus shooting is being investigated separately
Less than an hour after Patterson was shot, gunfire was reported at another location on campus. Two people were injured in that incident. Authorities did not charge Spinks in connection with the second shooting and have not publicly linked the two events.
Keeping the investigations separate avoids attributing allegations to a defendant beyond the announced charges. Police said detectives were reviewing evidence and seeking information about both incidents. No arrest had been announced in the second case when the murder charge against Spinks was filed. [1] [2] [3] [4]
University canceled events and classes
Winston-Salem State canceled the remaining homecoming activities and November 9 classes. Chancellor Bonita Brown said the campus was secure on November 8 and that additional law-enforcement officers would remain while the investigations continued. The university made counseling and support services available to students and staff.
Patterson was remembered by relatives and members of the university community as the campus began mourning. The injured woman was released from hospital care, according to reporting reviewed for this article. The university asked students to rely on official safety messages rather than unverified social-media claims. [1] [2] [3]
Criminal case is at an early stage
Spinks will move through North Carolina's pretrial process, including an initial appearance, appointment or retention of counsel and later probable-cause and charging decisions. A murder charge does not establish guilt, and no trial date had been announced. Bond and indictment decisions will be recorded separately as the case advances.
The next substantive updates should come from police evidence releases, prosecutorial filings or court records. The separate inquiry into the second shooting also remains open, and any arrest in that case should be treated as a distinct development unless authorities formally connect the incidents. [3] [4]
Sources & further reading
- A Message to Our Ramily from Chancellor Bonita J. Brown ↗Winston-Salem State University · 2026-11-08 · Primary source
- Supporting Our Ramily Following Tragedy | Classes Canceled Nov. 9 ↗Winston-Salem State University · 2026-11-08 · Primary source
- Police make arrest in a deadly shooting at Winston-Salem State during homecoming weekend ↗Associated Press · 2026-11-08
- Police: 19-year-old killed, woman injured, 20-year-old charged in WSSU campus shooting ↗WXII 12 News · 2026-11-08
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