Body of Garrett Warren, 13, found in Harlem River, family says
NEW YORK -- The search for two boys missing since last weekend has taken a tragic turn.
The family of 13-year-old Garrett Warren confirmed Thursday evening that police found their son's body in the Harlem River on Thursday morning.
Chopper 2 was overhead as police boats were searching the water.
The NYPD said it recovered the body around 10:15 a.m. Police were searching for 11-year-old Alfa Barrie and Warren, who were last seen together in Harlem late last week.
Police brought Warren's body from where it was found on the Manhattan side of the river to the Harbor Unit on Randalls Island and eventually to the medical examiner's office in Manhattan, where the Warren family identified the remains as Garrett.
His family was called to the 32nd Precinct, where police broke the tragic news.
"When they found out, they was in disbelief ... The mother just collapsed. She collapsed," said Harlem community activist Jackie Rowe-Adams.
Police say Barrie and Warren were seen together on surveillance video in Harlem on Friday night, and are believed to have been friends. CBS2 heard from police sources that Warren's body showed no signs of trauma and no foul play is suspected at this time.
"Unbelievable, and that's all the mom kept saying -- not her child, that was not her child in the water, she wanted to see her child, she wanted to go view the body, she wanted to see because he wasn't supposed to be in that water, and that's all, you know. And it's, I'm gonna tell you, honestly, that's the reaction of a mom in disbelief that your child's not coming home," Rowe-Adams said.
The NYPD believes it can now narrow its search for Barrie along the river. CBS2 saw several police helicopters and boats pass by. Every search capability is being used, including divers, sonar and drones.
"The family of the 11-year-old, they're staying hopeful. They're staying hopeful," Rowe-Adams said.
According to police, the two boys were last seen on surveillance video in Harlem last Friday night.
There are still a lot of questions as to what led to this tragedy.
As the search for Barrie continues, police sources tell us the water is so murky, it's difficult for divers to see more than an arm's length away, so they are using their hands as guides underwater.
