Portsmouth, Ohio Police have finally named a suspect in last weekend’s deadly double-shooting.
Officials say they want to talk to 25-year-old Anthony Kearns in connection with the shooting. According to the Ohio Department of Corrections, Anthony Kearns is wanted for parole violation. They warn the public not to approach Kearns, but instead, call 911.
SCDN was the first to tell you that ODRC was searching for Kearns, but did not mention his connection to the shooting until Portsmouth Police confirmed that information with a press release later in the day.
Kearns, 25, is currently on parole for a 2017 robbery. A judge sentenced him to 4 years back in 2018, and he was released on parole in September of 2021. Since then, police have arrested Kearns twice.
New Boston Police picked him up in January for contempt, and he was arrested again in February for Parole violation. Kearns spent 29 days in the Scioto County Jail on that charge. Kearns’s previous charges include probation violation, driving under suspension, robbery, and petty theft.
The shooting happened in the early hours of Sunday morning and claimed the lives of Abraham Velasco and Xavier Luna. Both men worked for Toro Loco Restaurant and were natives of Mexico. The restaurant is currently raising money to transport the victims home to their families for burial.