On Friday afternoon, October 20, a 13-year-old boy went missing after he was reportedly dared by his friends to jump into the East River at East River Park in Manhattan’s East Village, New York City.
Kavion Brown, who was with his basketball team and coach, was heard exclaiming, “Look what I can do,” before he dived into the water and was subsequently swept away by the river’s current.
Shortly after this incident, Kavion’s coach reached out to his mother, LaQuana Badger Godfrey, informing her of his disappearance. Arriving at the scene, LaQuana discovered her son’s bag, clothes, and phone left behind. Police have reported that Kavion entered the river near East 6th Street.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) has since been searching the river for Kavion. However, their efforts over the weekend faced significant obstacles due to poor weather conditions. The NYPD’s Harbor, Aviation, and Emergency Service Units are leading the search.
Kavion’s sudden disappearance has understandably left his family deeply distressed and seeking answers. LaQuana, expressing her profound anguish over her son’s disappearance, said, “I want my baby.” She allowed Kavion to attend the soccer game at the park, believing he would be safe with his basketball team and coach.
Alena Godfrey, Kavion’s great-aunt, has been closely monitoring the ongoing search operations. She urged for a deeper probe into the incident, suggesting looking into social media and school connections to identify who Kavion was with at the park. The NYPD has not indicated any suspicion of foul play, but they have not ruled it out.
Kavion, who recently began high school, is described as a quiet boy. His interests included basketball, dance, and art. Being the eldest of four brothers, Kavion was very close to his family.
A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated, describing Kavion as a teen “full of spirit” and “genuine kindness.” The campaign aims to support the family during this challenging time.
Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward. They remain committed to finding Kavion and providing his family with answers.