Winston-Salem State University canceled its remaining homecoming events Sunday after two separate shootings on campus left one person dead and three others injured, turning one of the public historically Black university’s largest annual gatherings into an active safety investigation and a campus-wide support effort.

The shootings occurred Saturday night, Nov. 7, during homecoming weekend. Winston-Salem police said at an early Sunday briefing that investigators had not yet determined whether the incidents were connected. The campus lockdown was lifted after authorities said there was no continuing threat, according to accounts from The Associated Press and WUNC.

What authorities have confirmed

Assistant Police Chief Jason Swaim said the Winston-Salem Police Department was investigating two shooting incidents that happened on the university’s campus. One person was killed and three people were injured. The first emergency call came at about 9:45 p.m. Saturday, and police held a public briefing at roughly 1:45 a.m. Sunday, local station WYFF reported.

Swaim described the investigation as being in its preliminary stages. Police had not publicly explained what led to either shooting or whether the incidents involved the same people when the university issued its Sunday response. The limited information matters: the confirmed casualty count and safety status should not be treated as a complete account of what happened.

Police said the campus was secure and lifted the lockdown early Sunday. Students were allowed to return to their residence halls, while additional officers were assigned to the campus and surrounding area. WXII reported that the inquiry continued through Sunday morning.

The university shifts from celebration to support

Chancellor Bonita J. Brown said the shootings had shaken the university community and canceled all remaining homecoming activities. In an official message, Brown said the school was working with Winston-Salem police, Winston-Salem State Police and Public Safety, and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office as the investigations continued.

The canceled schedule included the university’s Fourth Quarter event and its planned participation in WSSU Day at Emmanuel Baptist Church. The church instead organized a prayer gathering in support of the campus community. The shift illustrates the immediate operational consequences of a serious safety incident: large public events stop, access is controlled, law-enforcement presence increases and student-support services move to the foreground.

Winston-Salem State made in-person counseling available Sunday and Monday and directed students to additional mental-health support. Faculty and staff were referred to the university’s employee assistance program. Brown also urged community members to follow law-enforcement instructions, avoid restricted areas, keep residence halls secure and report suspicious activity.

Questions remain as the investigation develops

Several central facts remained unsettled at the time of publication. Authorities had not publicly said whether the shootings were connected, described the circumstances that preceded them or provided a full account of the injured people’s conditions. Early reports also did not establish whether all of the victims were students or visitors.

Those unknowns are especially important during homecoming, when alumni, relatives and other guests join students and employees on campus. The public should expect the official account to change as investigators interview witnesses, review available video and reconcile reports from two scenes. Updates that identify a suspect, victim or motive require fresh confirmation rather than inference from the location or timing of the violence.

The university’s immediate statement focused on confirmed safety information and access to support, while the police briefing emphasized that the campus and surrounding community were secure. Together, those messages give families the most actionable facts available without getting ahead of investigators.

The Educator's Takeaway

For campus leaders, the response highlights the parallel demands that follow a violent incident: stabilizing the physical environment, communicating what is known, supporting people who witnessed trauma and preserving the integrity of the investigation. Clear distinctions between confirmed facts and unanswered questions are particularly important in the first hours, when social posts and secondhand accounts can move faster than official information. Colleges also face an operational challenge when an emergency occurs during a high-attendance event involving visitors who may not receive routine campus alerts. Winston-Salem State’s cancellation of remaining activities, added police presence and extended counseling hours show how academic institutions may need to shift quickly from event management to recovery. The adequacy of that response will become clearer as authorities release more details and the university explains its plans for classes and campus operations.

What to watch next

The next reliable developments are likely to come from Winston-Salem police and university leadership. Key questions include whether investigators connect the two shootings, whether additional arrests or charges are announced, and whether the university changes its class schedule, access rules or event-security procedures.

For students and employees, the university said additional law enforcement would remain on campus while the inquiry continues. Because the investigation is active, accounts published before later police updates may become incomplete. Families and community members should rely on the university and local authorities for changes to campus status and avoid circulating unverified identities or claims about motive.