WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — A planned fight among young people escalated into a mass shooting at a North Carolina park Monday morning, resulting in two fatalities, authorities reported. The shooting occurred at 10 a.m. at Leinbach Park, located near Jefferson Middle School. According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, multiple individuals were shot during the altercation. Winston-Salem police Assistant Chief Jason Swaim explained that the initial confrontation was supposed to be between two juveniles who met to fight. A firearm was discharged, leading to multiple victims.

Investigators have identified numerous individuals connected to the event but are currently determining their roles, whether they were suspects, victims, or witnesses. While the police assured that nearby schools were secure and parents could safely retrieve their children at Jefferson Middle School, this tragic incident has heightened concerns over youth violence in the community. The shooting took place in a suburban and residential area northwest of downtown Winston-Salem, a city known for its historical ties to the tobacco industry.}