2 dead after planned fight between young people escalates to a shooting in North Carolina

Police in Winston Salem said several people were shot in Monday’s incident after two youths agreed to meet at a park to fight

A planned fight among young people escalated into a shooting at a North Carolina park on Monday morning that left two teenage boys dead and five other people injured, authorities said.

Winston-Salem police captain Kevin Burns said a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old died at the scene after being shot at around 10am at Leinbach Park, near a school. Five others between the ages of 14 and 19 were shot and suffered injuries ranging from critical to minor, Burns said at a news conference. Four of those victims are female, officials said.

Several people were shot, including two fatally, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said in a statement.

It was not immediately clear whether any of the victims were the gunmen. Winston-Salem police Chief William Penn said no one was in custody but authorities believe some of those injured were also involved in the shooting.

“I feel like everyone else. I’m frustrated, I’m angry, I’m sad. This didn’t have to happen,” Penn said.

Winston-Salem police Assistant Chief Jason Swaim said two juveniles had agreed to meet at the park to fight and that a firearm was discharged during the fight.