Search efforts to locate two missing New York boys have intensified as NYPD urges the public to submit tips if they have information on their whereabouts.
According to NBC New York, Alfa Barrie, 11, and Garrett Warren, 13, were seen together Friday night on security camera, at Ana’s Fish Market on 145th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, at around 6 p.m. An employee saw the boys inside the store, where they made a small purchase. The worker noted that the boys are regular customers of the shop.
Garrett Warren’s mother, Dayshell Moore, told CBS New York that she’s not angry with anyone. She just wants the boys to come home.
“We are not angry at anyone. We’re not trying to press charges or arrest anyone at all. We just want to find these two boys and bring them back home,” she said.
Moore said the boys went out Friday night and returned to Garrett’s home in Harlem around 1:30 a.m. Saturday morning for him to change clothes. She said they left again to play basketball and didn’t return.
Meanwhile, Alfa’s sister, Fatima Diallo, said she hasn’t heard from him since Friday. He attended school at Democracy Prep that day and left shortly after noon. The plan was for him to meet his 14-year-old sister, who attends the same school, and walk home together.
Alfa failed to meet his sister, which raised the initial concern that something was amiss.
“This is something he has never done. This is all new to us. We have no idea what’s going on, he’s a sweet little boy,” Diallo said. “Everything that’s happening right now, I can’t comprehend what’s going on.”
“He always calls us. He goes to school with my little sister. They always come out together. It has been five days. A little boy outside by himself. This is something new that has happened to us.”
Alfa’s family received a phone call from school Friday, informing them that he left class and said he needed to use the restroom but then walked out.
Since then, NYPD said “multiple units” have been sent out to search for the boys and police are working around the clock to find them.
“We are going to search land, air and sea. Obviously, the water is right here. They are young children. We are taking every precaution. We have state-of-the-art helicopters, Harbor Unit. We’re going to use all our assets to look for these kids,” Deputy Chief Brian Gill said, according to CBS New York.
“We’re looking at video all over Manhattan. We’re trying to identify everybody that was with them. We need to speak to every single person that was with them.”
Anyone with information on the children’s whereabouts should contact the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Tips can also be submitted through the NYPD website or via direct message on Twitter, @NYPDTips.
Police said tipsters can remain confidential. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Alpha (l) and Garrett (r)/NYPD]
