Saydoe Kearns

Saydoe Kearns, known to some as "Li Zoe," was a 23-year-old Black man whose life was cut short by gunfire on the very first day of the new year. His death on January 1, 2024, marked a tragic beginning to the year for the city of Portsmouth, Ohio, and left a void in the lives of those who knew him. Public records about Saydoe’s life are scarce, leaving only the painful reality of his absence. At 23, he was at an age of promise and potential, a time of building a future. The silence surrounding his personal story—his family, his work, his passions—speaks to a larger sorrow, where a young man's identity is suddenly and violently overshadowed by the manner of his death.

The new year was just hours old when the violence that claimed Saydoe’s life unfolded in Portsmouth. The specific circumstances of the shooting, including the time and location, have not been released to the public. What is known is that Saydoe was fatally wounded, becoming a victim of gun violence in a community grappling with a high rate of violent crime. His death was one of three homicides recorded in Portsmouth during 2024, a sobering statistic for a city of its size. The incident shattered the hope and celebration of New Year's Day, replacing it with a somber investigation into a young man's murder.

The Portsmouth Police Department is responsible for the investigation into Saydoe Kearns's homicide. In any such case, detectives would have responded to the scene to collect evidence, interview potential witnesses, and piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. The early hours of an investigation are critical, as law enforcement works to identify leads, a motive, and any individuals who may have been involved. The process is painstaking, relying on both forensic evidence and information from the community to move forward.

However, since the initial event, there has been a profound silence regarding the case. No suspects have been publicly identified, no arrests have been announced, and no motive for the shooting has been shared. For Saydoe's loved ones and the concerned community, this lack of information creates a painful uncertainty. The questions of who was responsible and why this happened remain unanswered, compounding the grief of their loss. The case has not received media coverage, leaving the public with few details beyond the fact of Saydoe's death.

The city of Portsmouth, located along the Ohio River in Scioto County, has faced ongoing challenges with crime rates that are significantly higher than state and national averages. This broader context of violence does little to ease the specific pain of a single, unresolved murder, but it highlights the environment in which such tragedies can occur. Each homicide leaves an indelible mark on the community, creating fear and eroding the sense of safety for its residents.

As of today, the investigation into the murder of Saydoe Kearns remains open but without any public updates. The path to justice is unclear, and the case has grown cold in the public eye. For a family missing a son, a brother, or a friend, the passage of time without answers is a continuous burden. The community is left to remember a young life lost and to hope that new information will one day emerge. Anyone with information regarding the death of Saydoe Kearns is encouraged to contact the Portsmouth Police Department's detective division at (740) 354-1600.