Two dead, 2 wounded at ‘mass shooting’ near rural church, North Carolina cops say

Two people were killed and two others were wounded in a “mass shooting” east of Mount Airy, North Carolina, according to investigators.

Four suspects have been arrested, including two juveniles, the Surry County Sheriff’s Office reported Friday in a case update.

The shootings happened around 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, on Samurai Lane across the street from Welcome Baptist Church, the sheriff’s office said. The church is about a 100-mile drive north from uptown Charlotte.

“Upon arrival, deputies located four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. ... One victim, an 18-year-old male, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The remaining three victims were transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. A second victim, a 17-year-old male, later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital,” the sheriff’s office reported.

“At this time, one 18-year-old male victim is listed in stable condition, and one 17-year-old male victim remains in critical condition.”

The four suspects include two juveniles (under the age of 18) and two adults, the sheriff’s office said. Their identities have not been released.

Each of the four faces two counts of felony first-degree murder, one count of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and one count of conspiracy to commit robbery with a dangerous weapon, the sheriff’s office said.

The juveniles are in the custody of the N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice and the adults are being held without bond at the Surry County Detention Center, officials said.

Welcome Baptist Church reports the shooting did not involve members of the congregation. Maps show a mobile home park is across the road from the church.

“All of our church members are safe, and the shooting was not in any way related to our church,” church officials wrote in a Facebook post. “Please help us pray for the victims and the entire situation.”

The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation labeled the incident a “mass shooting” and is assisting in the investigation, officials said.

This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 6:50 AM.