Portsmouth police say the man is not cooperating with the investigation

Portsmouth police made an urgent and frustrated plea Wednesday for a relevant person to come forward for questioning in the death of 10-year-old Keonte Thornhill, who was killed by a stray bullet on April 26.

Although he is not considered a suspect in the case, police believe 26-year-old Cleon Deonte Banks’ actions in connection with a fight between “multiple” juveniles contributed to the shooting. Det. Geno Jackson said at a news conference Wednesday morning that Banks had not been in contact with Portsmouth police since he was named a person of interest the day after the shooting.

Police consider Banks to be armed and dangerous.

“I must be clear: Based on the results of the investigation, it is believed that Mr. Banks’ actions that day either directly or indirectly led to a chain of events that resulted in the death of (Keontre),” Jackson said . He added that some of the teenagers who were at the scene were cooperating with the investigation, but police are also trying to speak to everyone else who was there that day.

Shawnday Ross, 31, is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the shooting. Jackson did not provide details about the crimes committed by police suspect Ross, saying only that while the details of the charges against her could not be made public, her charges “speak for themselves.”

“Basically I can say: parents are parents. Don’t contribute to your kids going into the neighborhood and fighting, don’t participate, don’t contribute to that kind of behavior,” Jackson said. “We have to stand up and get better.”

Jackson declined to comment on whether Ross and Banks have a relationship.

Police initially received a report of a fight in the 30 block of Farragut Street around 6:11 p.m. April 26, but the call was upgraded to a shots fired call en route to the scene, Jackson said. Officers found Keontre suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. He died later in hospital. His family told the pilot that he was upstairs in his room when a bullet came through the window and hit him.

Keontre’s mother Keyina Thornhill and stepfather Arvis Scott were present at the press conference. They expressed frustration with the behavior of the adults and parents who were present at the fight, as well as the police’s handling of the situation in the weeks leading up to the shooting. Thornhill said there had been fighting in the area for several weeks, including the week before the shooting, that appeared to be related to the school.

“I called the police about a week before this incident, but they never showed up because it’s so normal,” Thornhill said. Scott added that the teens had been arguing at school “all week” and it had spilled over into the neighborhood.

Stepfather of 10-year-old boy killed by stray bullet: ‘If I’m not strong, I’ll just collapse’

Jackson held up a picture of Keontre at the end of the press conference and said, “This is what this is about, this young man here.” Then he held up a picture of Banks and said sternly, “I ask again that this man, this man here, comes forward and speaks to us about this.”

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, [email protected]