ATLANTA (AP) - The family of a missing 12-year-old boy discovered his remains Wednesday afternoon in a creek bed near an Atlanta golf course, police said.
Atlanta police were called to the scene near John A. White Golf Course around 2 p.m. where they found the boy “unresponsive,” suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, news outlets reported. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police Maj. D’Andrea Price said the boy was reported missing Tuesday evening by his grandmother, who told authorities the boy went to a friend’s house around 3 p.m. and never returned home.
Officers canvassed the neighborhood Tuesday night but were unable to find him.
The family resumed the search Wednesday and found the boy in the wooded area. Price said the family searched where he and other children usually play and travel.
Nearby residents said they heard several gunshots behind their homes Tuesday evening. However, police said they were getting conflicting reports of when the shots were heard in the area.
Police expect the autopsy to determine an approximate time of death. The boy’s identity wasn’t immediately released.
Authorities said they have multiple leads but have asked anyone with information to contact the department.
“We don’t want anybody to die. Especially by gun violence,” said Price. “When young people are gunned down in our city, we take that very seriously.”
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