Shooting Victims Remembered As Great Friends, Co-workers
While police have not yet officially identified the victims of this weekend’s deadly double shooting, but according to a statement by Toro Loco Restaurant, the two men were employees of the popular dining destination.
The two were gunned down in the early morning hours of Sunday, not far from the restaurant.
According to the statement, “Today we are in mourning, we have lost two great friends, coworkers, they will see how brothers today they beat us to it and we only have to ask God for their eternal rest from Abraham Velasco and Xavier Luna that they find peace.”
The restaurant said it had contacted the victim’s family in Mexico but needed to raise money in order to return them to their homeland for burial. There will be a donation box set up at the restaurant for those who wish to contribute. It’s estimated it will cost between $15,000 and $20,000 to send their remains home for their families.
While initial reports identified Frank n Stein’s Lounge as the location of the shooting, the owner of that establishment clarified that witnesses at the bar heard shots fired (possibly from a vehicle) nearby around 2:30 am Sunday and observed a victim on the ground, and reported them to police.
The shooting appears to have happened down the street in the area of 8th Street. Police have offered very little information so far about any motive for the shooting, and the matter is still under investigation by PPD Detective and Ohio BCI.
If you have any information, contact the Portsmouth Police.