Erroneous “911 call” of shooter at Embassy Suites Hotel 460 N. Cherry St.

"A Police Report states, on Aug. 23 at 12.54 pm, Troopers with NC State Highway Patrol were involved in a “foot pursuit” of a suspect that had fled from the scene of a vehicle collision in the 400 block on N. Marshall Street.

Officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department responded to the area to assist the troopers.  Their suspect was eventually apprehended in 100 block of West End Blvd.  Please direct all inquiries about this portion of the incident to the NC State Highway Patrol.

This also triggered several citizens in the area also to make 911 calls to report this incident, this included one citizen that erroneously reported the incident as an “Active Shooter” in the Embassy Suites Hotel located at 460 North Cherry Street.  This hotel is located adjacent to the roadway where the collision occurred.

Initially, it was not known that this call was erroneous so the emergent nature of the call necessitated Officers respond quickly to area where they closed all surrounding streets as a precautionary measure.  It took approximately 15 more minutes to determine that this was an erroneous “911 call” and then all streets were re-opened except for the 400 block of North Marshall Street (due to original vehicle collision).  The 400 block of Marshall Street remained closed for approximately 2 hours.

Officers together with Hotel Management were able to determine that there was never any danger in the hotel or to any of the guests inside.

This reported “Active Shooter” incident resulted from an erroneous call and was it was subsequently determined that it did not occur. "

- A Police Report