On the night of June 18, 2024, at about 11:15 p.m., officers responded to a reported shooting at a residence on Edgeware Road in Winston-Salem. Two residents of the home were found with gunshot wounds: 61-year-old Rex Dion Payne was pronounced dead at the scene, and 62-year-old Travis Anthony Leslie was transported to a hospital. Leslie later died of his injuries on June 20, 2024, making this a double homicide.

The relationship between Payne and Leslie and the circumstances that led to the shooting remain under investigation. In the months after the killings, law enforcement pursued leads and a suspect was arrested and charged with accessory after murder; authorities have not released additional details about the suspect or a motive. The deaths were noted amid a broader uptick in violent crime in Winston-Salem, and police announced stepped-up patrols.

Anyone with information about the shootings on Edgeware Road is asked to contact the Winston-Salem Police Department or Crime Stoppers.