Police say a 20-year-old has been arrested and charged in a fatal campus shooting that cut through homecoming weekend.
Story Snapshot
- Police arrested 20-year-old Ziyaire Antonyo Spinks on murder and related charges.
- Officers found 19-year-old Peyton Izaia Patterson shot on the Winston-Salem State campus; he died despite aid.
- Police identified 22-year-old Alyssa Janae Ellerbee as injured in the same incident.
- Detectives called the shooting an isolated incident while the case remains under investigation.
Arrest Follows Campus Shooting During Homecoming
Winston-Salem Police announced the arrest of 20-year-old Ziyaire Antonyo Spinks in the deadly shooting on Winston-Salem State University’s campus. Spinks faces charges that include general murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury, and felony possession of a firearm on educational property. Assistant Chief Jason Swaim said investigators developed Spinks as a suspect and took him into custody. Authorities reported he is held without bond pending court proceedings.
Officers responded at about 9:46 p.m. to the 600 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on the campus. Police found 19-year-old Peyton Izaia Patterson with a gunshot wound. Medics attempted life-saving care, but Patterson died. Police identified a second victim, 22-year-old Alyssa Janae Ellerbee, who was injured in the same incident. Detectives described the event as isolated based on early findings, and they continue to examine what led to the gunfire.
Charges, Victims, and What Police Say So Far
Police publicly named Patterson as the young man who lost his life on campus and said Ellerbee received medical care for her injury. Reports also noted a separate charge for 18-year-old Cequan Warren Brower, who faces an affray count with a set bond. Police have not linked Brower to the fatal shot, and his role remains distinct from the murder allegation against Spinks, according to the available reports and police statements to local outlets.
Authorities framed the campus shooting as one of multiple violent events near the university during homecoming weekend. Early briefings explained that investigators were still sorting out whether separate shootings were connected. Later updates focused on the campus case and Spinks’ arrest. This timeline reflects the normal pace of a major case: respond fast, stabilize the scene, gather witness accounts, and then file charges when probable cause is ready.
Homecoming, Community Violence, and Campus Safety Reality
Police treat this case as a campus safety event because the shooting happened on university grounds. Yet national research shows that most campus shootings are not planned mass attacks. Many are assaults or homicides tied to personal disputes, often involving people with loose or no ties to the school. One analysis reported that gun homicides and assaults made up over half of campus shooting intents over a recent 10-year period.
That same body of research found campus shootings rose at a sharp clip over the past decade. The study cited an average year-over-year increase of about 20 percent, and it pointed to community factors beyond campus borders as drivers. That trend helps explain why a homecoming weekend, which brings large crowds and visitors, can become a flashpoint. The Winston-Salem case fits that pattern: a crowded scene, a dispute, a gun, and quick police work to make an arrest.
What Matters Next for Justice and Order
Court filings, witness statements, and lab work will carry the case forward. The arrest and charges are steps in a process, and Spinks, like any defendant, is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The strong play for public order is clear: swift, targeted enforcement against the person police say pulled the trigger, tight control of guns on educational property, and visible patrols at high-traffic campus events. That mix respects rights and backs safety with action, which aligns with common-sense community standards.
Sources:
wxii12.com, wfdd.org, whio.com, link.springer.com, kff.org
