James Lester Underwood, 46, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 25, 2026, in the 5000 block of Kimbrough Street in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Officers responding to a shooting just before 1 a.m. found Underwood with a gunshot wound; he was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

Detectives from the Winston-Salem Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division identified everyone involved and reported the parties were acquainted and cooperative. Investigators say Underwood was involved in a physical altercation that led to the shooting. After reviewing the evidence and consulting with the Forsyth County District Attorney’s Office, authorities determined the shooting was an act of self-defense and the DA announced no charges would be filed; the case was subsequently closed.

Are there witnesses or neighbors who saw activity on Kimbrough Street that night or have information about Underwood’s movements before the altercation?