WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Police in Winston-Salem are looking for two boys between the ages of 12 and 16 in connection to the shooting death of a 15-year-old boy.
Winston-Salem police said officers were called to a church at 432 Crews St. at about 8:47 p.m. Friday. Arriving officers found 15-year-old Jose Angel Chegue Mendoza in an open area behind the church.
Mendoza was found to be suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police said he was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center where he later died.
The investigation is in the early stages, but authorities said they believe this was not a random act and the assailant was known to the victim.
The suspects have been described as two Hispanic males, between the ages of 12 and 16, wearing red.
Tonya Long-Johnson lives across the street and said she heard five gunshots, followed by three more gunshots during the time of the shooting. She says it’s usually a quiet neighborhood.
“We haven’t had any issues since we’ve been here, you know it was okay,” Long-Johnson said. “But like I said for that to happen like that and for my handicap sister who’s deaf, for her to come out and say something and making gestures and noises, you know that’s too close. That’s too close for comfort.”
Another neighbor, who wished to remain unidentified, said he saw the two boys fleeing the scene on bicycles.
This is the 16th homicide to occur in Winston-Salem in 2016, as compared to 8 homicides during the same time frame of 2015, according to police.
Anyone with any information can call Winston-Salem police at (336) 773-7700 or CrimeStoppers at (336) 727-2800.
