Winston-Salem State football player Najee Ali Baker, 21, was shot and killed at an event on the Wake Forest University campus early Saturday morning, Wake Forest University President Nathan Hatch announced in an official statement.
"At approximately 1 a.m. this morning, Najee Ali Baker, a student at Winston-Salem State University, was shot during an altercation at a party on campus in The Barn," Hatch said t. "I am deeply saddened to report that the student later succumbed to his injuries. My thoughts and prayers this morning are with the student's family, friends and classmates, as well as our Wake Forest community."
Baker, a former walk-on on the football team, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead following the incident. University officials confirmed to WXII News 12 that the shooting took place around 1 a.m.
Hatch confirmed that the Winston-Salem Police Department is investigating the murder and "has no reason to believe that the shooter remained on campus."
The Barn, an on-campus social venue, hosted a party for the Pi Omicron chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority "to kick-off the new semester" during the time of the incident, according to WXII News 12.
Several students from Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University attended the event and officials from both universities are working together to support students impacted by the incident," Hatch said in his statement. "There is no greater priority than the safety of our campus community and this incident is troubling and unsettling for all of us. Police are increasing security and patrols on campus and in the surrounding area."
