Crime
71-year-old Bill Carr killed after car collided with a fence and goes into Middletown pond
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio – Bill Carr, 71, died early Thursday morning after the SUV he was driving crashed into a fence and became submerged in a pond in Middletown, according to the Middletown Division of Police.
Authorities said officers responded at approximately 4:13 a.m. on May 7, 2026, to reports of a single-vehicle crash in the 4100 block of Manchester Road.
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that Carr’s vehicle traveled off the roadway for reasons still under investigation, struck a fence, and ultimately entered a nearby pond, where the SUV became submerged.
Responding officers immediately attempted rescue efforts upon arriving at the scene, working to reach the occupant trapped inside the water-filled vehicle.
Despite those efforts, Carr was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police and emergency crews remained at the location for several hours Thursday morning as the submerged SUV was recovered from the pond around 6 a.m.
The fatal crash remains under active investigation by the Middletown Division of Police Traffic Unit as authorities continue working to determine what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
Investigators have not yet released information regarding whether medical issues, speed, weather conditions, or other contributing factors may have played a role in the crash.
Officials are asking anyone who may have information related to the incident to contact Officer Scott Renner with the Middletown Division of Police Traffic Unit at 513-425-1799 or through dispatch at 513-425-7701.
Crime
19-Year-Old Peyton Patterson Killed in WSSU Homecoming Shooting; Ziyaire Spinks Charged With Murder
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A 19-year-old man was killed and a 22-year-old woman was injured in a shooting on the Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) campus during homecoming weekend, according to the Winston-Salem Police Department.
The fatal shooting occurred Saturday night, November 7, 2026, in the 600 block of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on the university campus.
Police said officers responded at approximately 9:46 p.m. after receiving reports of gunfire. Officers who were already in the area reportedly heard the shots and immediately moved toward the scene.
Upon arrival, officers found Peyton Izaia Patterson, 19, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Officers began performing lifesaving measures before emergency medical services personnel arrived and continued treatment. Despite those efforts, Patterson succumbed to his injuries.
His next of kin has been notified.
A second victim, identified as Alyssa Janae Ellerbee, 22, was also found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. She was transported to a local hospital, where she received treatment and was later released.
As the investigation progressed, authorities identified Ziyaire Antonyo Spinks, 20, as a suspect. He was charged with:
- General Murder
- Assault With a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury (ADWIKISI)
- Felony Possession of a Firearm on Educational Property
Police said Spinks was being held without bond at the time of the announcement.
A second man was also reported to be in custody. However, authorities have not publicly released his name or provided details about any charges against him.
The police department said it would not release a photograph of Spinks because the investigation remains ongoing.
The Winston-Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division has taken over the investigation and continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Patterson’s death and the shooting.
Detectives have determined that the incident was isolated, according to police. Authorities have not released additional information about what led to the gunfire or the circumstances immediately preceding the shooting.
Police said further confirmed information would be released as it becomes available.
The investigation remains active.