Police said a 7-year-old boy reported missing from Carson Beach in South Boston on Tuesday afternoon has been found dead.
The Coast Guard said the Kyzr Willis, of Dorchester, was reported missing from the L Street Bath House in South Boston by his parents around 3 p.m. He was last seen about an hour earlier from a summer day camp.
After an extensive search by street patrols, K9 units, state police and Coast Guard air wings, the boy was found in the water near the beach house where he had gone missing.
"We found the young boy in the water unfortunately and he was declared deceased," Police Commissioner William Evans said in an evening news conference. "Obviously our hearts break for the family."
Evans said the boy had left the area on foot. The reason he left is not clear. He was reportedly playing with friends and brothers before he disappeared.
"We're obviously going to conduct a major investigation into what happened here," Evans said. "The is the worst part of our job - dealing with a tragic death like this."
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who is on his way home from the Democratic National Convention, expressed his sympathy in a statement:
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"The City of Boston is devastated to learn of the tragic loss of Kyzr Willis, and I will be working closely with Boston Centers for Youth and Families and the Boston Police Department until we know exactly what happened. My heart is broken for the Willis family and my thoughts and prayers will be with them."
Carson Beach is a public beach located in the area of 1663 Columbia Ave. and maintained by the state.
