Police find missing 7-year-old boy in downtown Los Angeles
Police have located a missing 7-year-old boy who disappeared from Los Angeles’ Mid-Wilshire neighborhood on Tuesday.
Derek Clay had last been seen in the courtyard of an apartment complex in the 1100 block of Crenshaw Boulevard on Tuesday, police said. He was found Wednesday in downtown Los Angeles “in good health,” police tweeted. Police found him at 5th and San Pedro streets.
“Our missing child has been located,” LAPD Capt. Sonia Monico said. “The child is safe and is being cared for by our detectives at this time and the investigation is ongoing. ... There is no evidence at this time of foul play being involved.”
The child was found walking the streets, Monico said.
“I can’t even put into words. You don’t want to see me cry,” the boy’s tearful grandfather Donald Lewis said as he drove to the police station to pick up his grandson.
Derek’s disappearance had left family and neighbors distraught.
“He’s my little guy,” said Edgar Acevedo, 40, who would play soccer with Derek in the shared courtyard of their apartment complex when he arrived home from work.
“He’s always waiting for me to come home. ... I’m terrified. I’m upset. I’m concerned about his well-being,” Acevedo said before Derek was found.
State Sen. Steven Bradford (D-Gardena) introduced a bill to establish the ‘Ebony Alert’ system that would inform people of missing Black children and young women.
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