Police are frantically searching for an autistic 9-year-old boy who likely wandered into the Red Hook Channel in Brooklyn Wednesday night, according to law enforcement sources.
The nonverbal boy was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue shorts and orange Crocs inside the Ikea store at 1 Beard St. just before 9 p.m., police said.
Surveillance footage captured him walking out of the rear of the store, which leads directly to a boardwalk and pier on the Erie Basin.
Police reported the autistic 9-year-old boy was last seen wearing a black shirt, blue shorts and orange Crocs inside the Ikea store at 1 Beard St. just before 9 p.m. Robert Mecea
Emergency responders from the FDNY and NYPD are seen searching the waters behind IKEA in Red Hook Brooklyn, on Aug. 16, 2023, for the missing 9-year-old. Robert Mecea
A searcher is seen in the waters behind IKEA in Red Hook Brooklyn, looking for the missing child. Robert Mecea
The child’s orange Crocs were recovered from the water, police said. Robert MeceaThough there has been no sign of the boy, both of his orange Crocs were recovered from the water.
Frantic family members were spotted working with dozens of police officers within a roped-off section of the boardwalk.
Multiple NYPD divers are searching for the child in the channel waters.
A slow-moving police boat also cruised the still waters in hopes of catching sight of the child in the beam of its spotlight.
At least one K-9 was seen working to hunt down the missing boy’s scent.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
