Woman charged in relation to 10-year-old’s shooting death arrives late to court

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — A woman arrested in connection with the shooting that killed a 10-year-old boy on Farragut Street last week managed to avoid arrest after showing up late for her hearing Friday.

10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox went to the arraignment, where he said 31-year-old Shawnday Ross was late showing up for court. Portsmouth Juvenile Domestic Relations Judge Solomon Ashby called Ross first, around 9 a.m. She wasn’t there, and appeared to be a no-show.

According to officials, Ross, who is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, was supposed to arrive at court at 9 a.m. Friday. By the time Ross showed up, the judge was in the process of ordering a failure to appear, which would have issued a warrant for her arrest.

WAVY 10 was able to contact Ross by phone to tell her she was supposed to be in Courtroom 2 by 9 a.m. Ross had no comment at the time.

Ashby had continued his docket, and at 9:49 a.m., 10 On Your Side’s Andy Fox left the courtroom, found her phone number and called her to tell her she was late for her hearing. She had no comment. After notifying the judge and walking out of the courtroom again, he found Ross walking down the hallway. She identified herself, then went into the courtroom, and the hearing began. She told the court she was responsible for herself and three others.

The sounds of shots — one of them would find the innocent 10-year-old Keontre Thornhill, minding his own business inside his home.

The first one charged in connection with his death, Ross, was late to court and hiding under cover.

After the hearing, 10 On Your Side asked her if she could explain the contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge.

Ross said nothing as she left court, but you could hear her crying as she walked.

Keontre’s mother heard the fighting — common in the neighborhood — then the shots.

“I tried to prevent it, I tried to prevent it,” Kevina Thornhill said. “They came back with their mother, a mother, a mother, a mother — came back with a mother. My son was sitting in a window and got killed.”

In court, this mother of three was given a court-appointed attorney.

Her charge is contributing to the delinquency of a minor, but no further details have been given, as the investigation is ongoing. As Ross walked to her car, 10 On Your Side asked these questions:

“What is your relation to the child that was killed? Can you tell us what happened on that day? Can you tell us what the contributing to the delinquency of a minor involved?”

Officers are still looking for 26-year-old Cleon Deonte Banks a person of interest

Ross is due back in court at 9:30 a.m. July 1.

Check with WAVY.com for more updates.

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