An hourslong search ended in a tragedy when a body was recovered during a search for a 5-year-old boy Thursday evening in west Harris County, authorities said.
At about 2:35 p.m., deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a call of a missing 5-year-old boy who wandered off from a home in the 5900 block of Longhorn Run Lane. Authorities said the boy was with his mom and aunt when he went missing.
Deputies responded within minutes after receiving the call. At the scene, they were advised by witnesses that the child arrived at the neighborhood pond and went in. A dive team was called out to the scene.
During the search, the sheriff’s office released a photo of the child, whom they identified as Los Jones.
Hours later, at about 8:22 p.m., Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said a body, believed to be the missing 5-year-old, was found in the water.
“The child was located underwater in a pond and pronounced deceased. Our condolences go out to the family,” Gonzalez shared on X.
Sad news. Our dive team has recovered the body, believed to be the missing 5-yr-old male child. The child was located under water in a pond and pronounced deceased. Our condolences go out to the family.
Media briefing will take place at the scene, shortly. #HouNews https://t.co/IZZTXbbkXW
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) September 29, 2023
Major Earl Dean with the sheriff’s office said they obtained surveillance video from a resident’s home, which showed the child going toward the water.
In addition, authorities said it’s possible the child may have been missing for about an hour before a call was made to 911, but that remains under investigation.