JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 10-year-old boy was found safe hours after he was reported missing Tuesday from Long Branch Elementary School, authorities said.
Sam Booker walked out of his classroom about 1 p.m. at the school on East 30th and Franklin streets, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said. News4Jax learned he was found about four hours later.
“We are pleased to announce the missing child has been located safe,” Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Christian Hancock said in a news release.
According to a school district spokesperson, the student left his class without authorization.
“The teacher immediately informed the school administration, and an all-call went out over school radios to locate the student. Long Branch was staffed with a JSO Officer who assisted in the search,” the district wrote in a statement to News4Jax. “School administration also notified Duval County School Police. After it was evident the student had left the campus, the search expanded into the community.”
One of the teachers at the school, Mr. Ansonio Mitchell, found the child in the area of Main Street and 45th Street, the district said. He’s said to be fine physically.
It’s unclear where the boy went after leaving school, and there were no immediate details about how he was allowed to leave campus without being stopped by school administrators.
Can you hear that? Towards the end of the video investigators are yelling on the intercom “come on out Sam!”
— Kelly Wiley (@KellyWileyNews) February 18, 2020
Investigators have been searching since 1pm for the 10-year-old student who was last seen walking out of class. @wjxt4 pic.twitter.com/02G7Sq08Pw