A 10-year-old boy, Keontre N. Thornhill, was killed by a stray bullet inside his home on Farragut Street in Portsmouth, Virginia, on April 26, 2024. Officers attempted lifesaving measures and he was taken to a hospital, where he died. The shooting reportedly began during a dispute between teenage girls that escalated into violence.

Keontre’s mother, Kevina Thornhill, described him as a caring, respectful child and an old soul. He attended Cradock Elementary School and is remembered for his sweet smile and beautiful spirit. His parents and four siblings have been left mourning, and the community held a candlelight vigil in his honor.

The Portsmouth Police Department opened a criminal investigation. Authorities arrested 31-year-old Shawnday Nakisha Ross on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor but said Ross did not fire the fatal shot. Police identified 26-year-old Cleon Banks as a person of interest and described him as armed and dangerous, asking the public for help locating him. Does anyone have information about that evening or about Cleon Banks’s whereabouts?