Daily Deacon

One Dead, Three Injured During Shooting at Night Club

Earlier this morning, three people were injured and one was killed during a shooting at a Winston-Salem nightclub, according the Winston-Salem Police Report.

According to the report, officers responded to the Nitty Gritty Restaurant/Nightclub on 3003 South Main Street after being notified of gunfire at the local night spot, which occurred at 1:47 A.M. Upon arrival at the scene, officers found one who had been shot outside the club and two inside the club, the report said. Later, a fourth victim was brought to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center who was determined to have also been shot at the nightclub.

One of the victims inside the club, an unidentified black male, was confirmed to be dead at the scene, the report said. His name has been withheld pending confirmation of identity as well as the notifying of next of kin, according to Winston-Salem PD. Cortez Smith is labeled as being in stable condition, Carmen Simmons is in critical condition, and Barry Richardson is in critical condition.

According to the report, there is no known suspect in the shooting. However, the Criminal Investigations Division has assumed control of the case, which is ongoing. South Main Street is blocked due to the investigation.

Thirty rescued from flooded nightclub, zerwick

I edited the short story we wrote for brevity and active verbs. I also checked the name of the creek on Google maps and added that. I moved the name of the club to the third paragraph because it’s not well known. The street, however, is well known by our imagined readers. I also moved the time element to the end of the first sentence. In general, starting with the time element slows the story down.

Firefighters used an inflatable raft to rescue 30 patrons from a nightclub on Northwest Boulevard after heavy rains flooded the parking lot last night, according to a report by the Winston-Salem Fire Department.

The report said that swift-moving water carried parked cars into nearby Peters Creek. Rescuers also a helped a man trapped on his car to safety.

Water had risen to a depth of four feet outside Studio 99 by the time rescuers arrived shortly after 9:40. The report does not mention any injuries.

Electrocution – Rachel Hirsch

Yesterday, Johnnie Lee Reed was found dead by the Norfolk Southern Railroad around 8 AM and it is suspected that he was electrocuted according to the police report.

In the report, the Winston-Salem Police Department was notified of a possible deceased person on 3000 Blk of N. Liberty St. where they found a black male and confirmed his death. The report said the body was found near a utility pole by one of the railroad workers while checking the tracks.

Detectives from the Winston-Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division suspect that Reed was electrocuted while trying to remove copper wiring from the utility pole. In the report it mentions the deceased was armed with wire cutters and other tools that allude to electrocution. These detectives are working with the Medical Examiner’s Office to find the actual cause of death.

The Winston-Salem Police Department asks that anyone with information about this investigation, either contacts them at 773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 727-2800.

Questions: Do we know any other information?

Does anyone know why Reed was trying to remove the copper?

Try and find family or friends who might know of any information.

Robbery at Hanes Mall – Rachel Hirsch

Last night, an armed robbery took place at Hanes Mall in Winston-Salem around 10 PM according to the police report.

In the report, two Buckles employees were leaving the mall after their shifts when a man came out of the bathroom demanding for their bank deposit bag. This man has yet to be identified, but was described as a six foot black man, about 150 to 170 pounds, in his early twenties, wearing a black sweatshirt and sweatpants. The report said the suspect was carrying a handgun and maybe even a revolver. The police even ran an extensive K-9 track.

Anyone with information on this robbery, the Winston-Salem Police Department asks that you contact Crime Stoppers at 727-2800.

Questions- Were there any other people there that saw this happen? If so, get their response.

Have the police done anything else to find the suspect?

Was there actually any money stolen?

The victims are listed as #2 and #3…was there a #1?

Stories from Police Reports– Eisert

Father and daughter found shot dead in residence

This past Thursday, Derek Morris and his six-year-old daughter Iza Lily Morris were found dead at 5356 Old Rural Hall Road, both having suffered single gunshot wounds, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department report.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigations Division have begun an investigation and have found that Morris was estranged from his wife, the mother of Iza. The couple was in the early stages of separating, and there were discussions regarding custody of Iza.

Detectives are continuing the investigation and are working with Medical Examiner’s Office authorities.

More: Interview with whoever found the two bodies, someone from the WSPD/detective, someone who knows more about Morris personal situation; autopsy results; suspects; general updates; WSPD contact information

1 dead, 3 hospitalized in shooting near nightclub

This past Saturday, four victims were found shot, one dead, near the Nitty Gritty Restaurant/Night Club at 3003 S. Main Street, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department report. The incident occurred at about 2 a.m.

The deceased, an unidentified male, was found dead inside the club. The three remaining victims were taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. One victim is in stable condition, and the other two are in serious or critical condition.

More: Interview with club owner on incident and future steps for the club, someone at the scene, victim in stable condition; details of incident (i.e., what happened before/what led to there being shots fired); updates on health of victims; suspects

Chris Caswell #2 — Hanes Mall robbery

On Sept. 1, around 10 PM, two employees of BUCKLES, located in Hanes Mall, were robbed by an unknown suspect with a handgun, according to a Winston-Salem Police Department report.

The two employees, Amanda Eversole, 23 and Deidra Power, 19 were leaving for the day when the suspect approached then from the bathroom and demanded the bank deposit bag, the report states.

The report describes the suspect as approximately 20 to 25 years-old and six feet tall, wearing a black hoodie and black sweat pants. He fled on foot towards the woods near the nearby Days In.

Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded. An attempt to track the suspect using K-9 dogs was unsuccessful according to the police department.

Follow up questions:

How much money did the suspect get away with?

Does the mall plan to increase security after the incident?

Chris Caswell Post #1 — Electrocution

On Sept. 23, police were called to property of Norfolk Southern Railroad after a railroad worker found a deceased man on the west side of the property according to a police report filed by the Winston-Salem Police Department.

The body was found by a Norfolk Southern Railroad worker who was checking the tracks along the train yard. The worker found the deceased at the base of a utility poll, the police report says.

The report identifies the deceased as Johnnie Lee Reed, 59, and police believe the cause of death was electrocution after Reed attempted to remove copper wire from the utility poll after preliminary investigation. This conclusion was supported by the presence of wire cutters and other tools.

The Winston-Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division continue to investigate with the help of the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Follow up questions:

What is the name of the worker who found the body?

What was his reaction?

What kind of security measures does Norfolk Southern have to prevent people from trespassing?

3 Injured 1 Dead in Main Street Homicide, report says- Karlee Spirit

Local authorities responded to an incident near the Nitty Gritty Restaurant and Night Club this morning where there were three injured and one killed. Just before 2:00am, police found one victim shot outside the club while two had been shot inside the club. A fourth victim was reported to have been immediately rushed to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

According to the recently released police report, victims were identified as 20 year old Cortez Smith, 20 year old Carmen Simmons, and 23 year old Barry Richardson, all residents of Winston-Salem. According to the police report, Smith is listed as being in stable condition, Simmons is in critical condition and Richardson is in serious condition.

An unidentified black male who was inside the club was determined to be deceased. Detectives within the Police Department are withholding information of the deceased at this time.

Questions:

1) When were other victims taken to the hospital? and How?

2) What is the background of the shooter?

3) Any other listed incidents near the restaurant/night club?

Hanes Mall Robbery – Brandon Liu

An unidentified male armed with a handgun robbed Buckles in Hanes Mall after closing on the night of August 1^st. The suspect was described by the two victims, Buckles employees Amanda Eversole and Deidra Power as 6′, 150-170 lbs wearing a black hoodie pulled up and black sweat pants. The suspect fled from the mall after demanding the bank deposit bag and was last seen running towards the wooded area near Days In.

No leads were found after an extensive K-9 track. The Winston-Salem Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding this crime contact Crime stoppers at 727-2800.

Follow up Questions

Clarify whether or not the robber succeeded in taking the bank deposit bag

Ask the police if they found any additional information through security cameras

POLICE IN SEARCH FOR ARMED ROBBER IN HANES MALL- Karlee Spirit

Police are in search for a suspect involved in an armed robbery at the Hanes Mall on Silas Creek Parkway. After 10:00 last night, authorities reported details that two BUCKLES employees were approached by the suspect armed with a handgun demanding a bank deposit bag. According to the police, the suspect was last seen running towards the Days In.

Following the incident, an extensive K-9 track was performed but named unsuccessful. The employees of BUCKLES, identified as Amanda Eversole, 23 of Clemmons and Deidra Power, 19 of Winston-Salem were said to have identified the suspect as 6′ tall and 150-170 pounds and dresses in a black hoodie and black sweatpants.

The Winston-Salem Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding the suspect or the crime would contact the crime line at 727-2800.

Questions:

1) Were the employees injured?

2) What is the status of the search for the suspect?

3) Were there any bystanders? If so, interview them.