Police say adults who watched or encouraged the deadly Winston-Salem mass shooting at Leinbach Park will be charged.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem police made it loud and clear that adults who stood by, watched, recorded, or even hyped up the deadly teen fight that turned into gunfire are about to be charged.
What started as a pre-arranged teen fight just before 10 a.m. Monday near Leinbach Park off Sally Kirk Road quickly turned into a shooting.
Five others — ranging from 14 to 19 years old — were shot and rushed to local hospitals with injuries from critical to non-life-threatening.
POLICE: “YOU STOOD THERE? YOU’RE NEXT.”
On Tuesday, law enforcement wasn’t just talking about shooters — they were talking about everybody else who was there.
Winston-Salem Police Chief William Penn Jr., alongside Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. and District Attorney Jim O’Neill, dropped a bombshell during a joint update.
“There will be charges for the adults who stood by during this fight yesterday,” Penn said.
“Although they’re young adults, they are still adults… if you stand by and encourage or aid our juveniles, we will not tolerate it.”
And the DA didn’t sugarcoat it either:
“If you commit a violent crime in this community… we will show no mercy whatsoever.”
Authorities say they are not currently looking for additional shooters.
