A Saturday evening in Winston-Salem turned violent and tragic, ending the life of 20-year-old Luis Mario Noyola-Avila and leaving another person seriously wounded. The shooting on October 17, 2026, cut short the life of a young Hispanic man, leaving behind a family to grieve and a community with unanswered questions. His death is the subject of an ongoing homicide investigation.
The incident began at approximately 9:21 p.m.
when the Winston-Salem Police Department received reports of a shooting and dispatched officers to the 200 block of East 24th Street. When they arrived at the residential location, they discovered a chaotic scene and one person suffering from a gunshot wound. Forsyth County Emergency Medical Services personnel responded quickly, providing immediate aid before transporting the victim to a local medical facility. That individual was admitted in serious but stable condition.
As police began securing the crime scene and canvassing the neighborhood for information, the investigation took a critical turn. Officers learned that a second victim, suffering from a gunshot wound from the same incident, had been taken to a local hospital by a private vehicle. At the medical facility, this victim was identified as Luis Mario Noyola-Avila. He was in critical condition, and despite the urgent life-saving efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The Winston-Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division immediately assumed control of the case, launching a full homicide investigation. Detectives began the meticulous process of collecting evidence from the scene on East 24th Street and trying to piece together the sequence of events that led to the gunfire. The department notified Noyola-Avila’s next of kin of the devastating loss.
Early in the investigation, detectives determined that the shooting was not a random act of violence. This key finding suggests that the individuals involved were likely targeted, though police have not released any information about a possible motive for the attack. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, and authorities have not publicly identified any persons of interest or suspects in the case. Key details, such as what precipitated the violence or how many individuals were involved, have not been disclosed.
In the days following the shooting, no arrests have been announced, and the case has remained active. The identity of the other victim who survived the shooting has not been released to the public. The lack of new information leaves many questions unanswered: Who opened fire that night, and why? Who was the driver of the private vehicle that rushed Luis Noyola-Avila to the hospital? The answers may depend on a crucial tip from the community.
As of October 2026, the investigation into the murder of Luis Mario Noyola-Avila is ongoing. The Winston-Salem Police Department urges anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. Individuals can contact the police department directly at their non-emergency number, 336-773-7700. For those who wish to provide information anonymously, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 336-727-2800 for English speakers or 336-728-3904 for Spanish speakers. Tips can also be sent via text, along with photos or videos, through the Text-A-Tip Program at 336-276-1717.
