Police from the Winston‑Salem Police Department responded around 3:00 a.m. to a shooting in the 1900 block of Bertha Street, just off South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive

• Police from the Winston‑Salem Police Department responded around 3:00 a.m. to a shooting in the 1900 block of Bertha Street, just off South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. WXII

• Upon arrival, the officers located Cameron Napper Jr. suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts by EMS, he died from his injuries. WXII

• Investigators say the incident is being treated as a homicide. At this time they do not believe the incident was random. WXII

What remains unclear

• The motive behind the shooting has not been publicly disclosed.

• No suspect identity or arrest information has yet been released.

• The sequence of events leading to the shooting – including whether it was a targeted attack, dispute, or other scenario – is still under active investigation.

• Community outreach and witness cooperation appear needed; police are urging anyone with information to come forward. WXII

Impact & community response

Cameron’s death adds to a troubling pattern of youth and gun-violence affecting Winston-Salem. Early-morning shootings in residential areas raise concerns not just about law-enforcement response, but also community safety, access to information, and prevention. The fact authorities believe the incident was not random suggests possible issues of conflict, retaliation or other interpersonal violence.

In moments like this, the community often comes together in grief, but also in inquiry:

• Neighbors may wonder what happened, why so early in the morning, and how safe the neighborhood is.

• Family and friends face the pain of losing someone so young, with many questions unanswered.

• Local law-enforcement and public officials will likely increase emphasis on outreach, neighborhood policing, and public-safety communication given the time and nature of the incident.