Portsmouth police say the man is not cooperating with the investigation

Portsmouth police issued a strong, frustrated request Wednesday for a person of interest to come forward for questioning in the death of 10-year-old Keonte Thornhill, who was killed April 26 by a stray bullet.

Although he is not considered a suspect in the case, police believe 26-year-old Cleon Deonte Banks’ actions regarding a fight between “several” juveniles contributed to it escalating into gunfire. Det. Geno Jackson said at a news conference Wednesday morning that Banks has not contacted Portsmouth police since he was named as a person of interest the day after the shooting.

Police consider Banks armed and dangerous.

“I must be very clear: based on what the investigation has revealed, it is believed that Mr. Banks’ actions that day directly or indirectly led to a series of events that led to (Keontre’s) death,” Jackson said . . He added that some teens who were at the scene have cooperated with the investigation, but police also want to speak to anyone else who was there that day.

Shawnday Ross, 31, has been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor in connection with the shooting. Jackson did not provide details about what police suspected Ross did, saying only that while the details of why she was charged cannot be released, her charges “speak for themselves.”

“In principle I can say: parents, be parents. Don’t contribute to your kids going into neighborhoods where they’re fighting, don’t participate, don’t contribute to that type of behavior,” Jackson said. “We have to rise up and be better.”

Jackson declined to comment on whether there is a relationship between Ross and Banks.

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

Keontre’s mother, Keyina Thornhill, and stepfather, Arvis Scott, attended the press conference. They expressed frustration with the actions of the adults and parents present at the fight, and with the way police handled the situation in the weeks leading up to the shooting. Thornhill said there had been fighting in the area for weeks, apparently stemming from school, including the week before the shooting.

“I called the police a week before this incident and they never showed up because it’s normal,” Thornhill said. Scott added that the teens had been arguing at school “that entire week” and it spread to the neighborhood.

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

Jackson held up a photo of Keontre at the end of the press conference and said, “This is what this is about, this young man right here.” He then held up a photo of Banks and said sternly, “I’m asking this man again, this man right here needs to come forward and talk to us about this.”

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