Forsyth County deputies said no arrests had been announced after the early Saturday shooting.
WALKERTOWN, NC — A 16-year-old boy and his pet dog were found fatally shot early Saturday at a home on New Walkertown Road, and Forsyth County deputies said they are investigating the case as a homicide.
The shooting has drawn a sharp response from Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr., who called the deaths an act of “senseless juvenile violence.” The teen’s name had not been released, and investigators had not announced a suspect or arrest. The case is being handled by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services Division.
Deputies were called at about 5:55 a.m. Saturday to a residence in the 4700 block of New Walkertown Road to assist EMS. When deputies arrived, they found the teenager and the dog suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities have not said who called 911, whether anyone else was inside the home or what led to the shooting. Kimbrough said the killings caused him to question “the moral compass of society” and said the sheriff’s office would use all available resources to find the person responsible.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation remained open and ongoing Sunday. Officials have not released the teen’s identity, citing his age, and have not described a possible motive. Investigators also have not said whether they believe the shooting was targeted, whether more than one person was involved or whether the gunfire happened inside or outside the home. The address is along New Walkertown Road, also known as U.S. 311, a main route through the Walkertown area of Forsyth County. The deaths were discovered in the quiet morning hours, before many nearby homes and businesses would have been active.
Kimbrough’s statement focused on the age of the victim and the killing of the family pet, calling the case especially troubling. “When a 16-year-old child and his pet can be gunned down in the quiet of the morning hours, it causes me to question our sense of morality and brings true anguish,” Kimbrough said. He added, “Make no mistake about it, there is a monster among us.” The sheriff’s office did not say whether investigators had recovered evidence from the scene, collected surveillance video from the area or interviewed possible witnesses. Those details are often withheld early in homicide investigations to protect leads.
Walkertown is in Forsyth County, northeast of Winston-Salem, and the case adds to local concern over violence involving young people. The sheriff’s office described the shooting as juvenile violence but did not say whether the suspected shooter is a juvenile. That distinction remains unknown. Officials also have not said whether the teen was a student, whether family members have been notified publicly or whether the dog was struck by the same gunfire that killed the boy. The lack of released details has left the public account focused on a narrow set of facts: deputies were sent to help EMS, found two gunshot victims and opened a homicide investigation.
The next steps are expected to include continued witness interviews, review of physical evidence and any search for video from homes, businesses or traffic cameras near the 4700 block of New Walkertown Road. No court hearings had been scheduled because no charges had been announced. The sheriff’s office asked anyone with information to contact investigators at 336-727-2112. It also listed anonymous tip options, including Text-A-Tip at 336-920-8477 and Crimestoppers at 336-727-2800 for English or 336-728-3904 for Spanish. The agency said information about juvenile behavior or juvenile intervention resources can be directed to its Juvenile Intervention and Investigation Team at 336-917-7030.
For investigators, the first public milestone was the initial call shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday. The next public step will likely be the release of a suspect description, an arrest announcement or a statement identifying the teen if officials decide that can be done. As of Monday, the sheriff’s office had not reported any arrest in the killing of the boy and his dog.
Author note: Last updated May 4, 2026.