The physique of lacking teen Kavion Brown-Godfrey was discovered within the East River close by the Wall Avenue Heliport this previous Friday Oct. 27. He was recognized by his dad and mom, says their household lawyer, though police say they’re awaiting the health worker’s official dedication.
The seek for Brown Godfrey ends precisely per week after the 13-year-old boy disappeared into the East River final Friday, Oct. 20, round 4 p.m. An NYPD spokesperson stated police responded to a “water rescue” from the sixth Avenue entrance to decrease Manhattan’s East River Park. There, officers discovered from witnesses {that a} teenage boy “entered” the East River and didn’t return. Rescue boats, divers and drones have been deployed in efforts to search out him.
Brown Godfrey reached excessive in life, each actually and figuratively. His father Donnell Godfrey remembers him as an bold child with goals of enjoying within the NBA. The teenager stood 6-foot-3; between his top and useful nature, there have been few cabinets the household couldn’t entry when he was house, stated his dad.
“He’s a younger, good, energetic, sturdy, clever child,” stated his father. “He loves sports activities. He was enjoying basketball for many of his life.”
“He’s so good, type, and respectful,” added Kavion’s mom, Laquana Badger Godfrey. “He was the whole lot you could possibly think about: useful, accountable; he loves his brothers. He cherished us. My son simply wished to be round us. I’ll be sitting right here and he’ll simply be sitting this shut—I’m like, ‘Transfer over just a bit bit’—however he was simply that loving and he cherished life.”
His dad and mom say Brown Godfrey attended Decrease East Aspect Preparatory Excessive College, the place he’s notably youthful than most classmates because of his winter birthday. He’s the oldest of 4 boys and is remembered as a fan of NBA 2K video video games and music, each old skool and new college.
Brown Godfrey’s dad and mom held a press convention with Sanford Rubenstein on the private harm lawyer’s Brooklyn workplace on Thursday, Oct. 26, asserting intentions to look into the NYC Division of Schooling’s accountability for his or her son’s disappearance, though it’s too early to find out whether or not a declare can be made. The interview occurred a day earlier than Brown Godfrey’s physique was recovered.
“The primary query this household desires a solution to is was there a accountability on the Division of Schooling [that] was breached [that] brought on [this disappearance],” stated Rubenstein. “We’ll conduct an investigation with regard to that situation and make a dedication, and if they’re accountable, take acceptable authorized motion.”
Brown Godfrey’s father instructed reporters the younger man was scheduled to attend a soccer sport supervised by his basketball coach when the incident occurred.
The dad and mom have additionally publicly maintained they have been the one spokespeople for Brown Godfrey, disputing remarks made earlier by a girl claiming to be his great-aunt.
“There’s somebody [who’s] been talking out on behalf of the household—a girl named Alena Godfrey; at the least, that’s how she’s been recognized within the press,” stated Rubenstein. “She isn’t a spokesperson for the household and he or she has not been approved by the household to talk.”
The lady in query spoke to the Amsterdam Information this previous Tuesday close to the place the incident transpired and recognized herself because the great-aunt. The dad and mom say they don’t know who she is.
“With this happening, it looks like I’m in a film…and somebody’s attempting to interject themselves into my life,” stated the daddy. “And it’s scary, and it’s loopy, and it’s ridiculous.”
A GoFundMe raised for Brown Godfrey and his household lately reached greater than $12,000 in donations. The hyperlink might be discovered right here.Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public security for the Amsterdam Information. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps maintain him writing tales like this one; please take into account making a tax-deductible present of any quantity as we speak by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.
