Kavion Brown: Body of teenager reported missing in NYC's East River last week discovered
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The body of a teenager who was reported missing in New York City's East River last week has been discovered.
The family’s lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein, said the body of the 13-year-old, identified by family members as Kavion Brown, was located on Friday, October 27, and his loved ones are now planning funeral arrangements.
On October 20, Kavion vanished after getting into the water off East River Park in Manhattan's East Village just after 4 pm, police previously said.
His family and authorities have said they believe he was dared to go in.
According to the New York Post, an NYPD spokesperson previously told that Kavion said, "Look what I can do," to his friends when he went into the river.
He was then swept away by a current, police told the newspaper. Authorities had scoured the waters since his disappearance.
Kavion Brown asked to go to the soccer game on the day he went missing
According to ABC affiliate WABC-TV, Kavion, who was fond of basketball, dance and art, asked to go to the soccer game at the park the day he went missing.
His mother, Laquana Badger-Godfrey, agreed because she was told he was going with his basketball team and their coach, as per the outlet.
Recalling the day of the incident, Laquana said, "I was home with my three other children because I recently picked them up from school, and then we came home. I already spoke to Kavion, so I knew Kavion was okay. But then I got a phone call from my husband. My husband called me and said, ‘Babe you need to get out there, go.’ He said, ‘Go down to the river. It’s Kavion.' I ran down to 7th (Street), and I walked into a whole world of trouble. The coaches were trying to talk, FDNY, the police officers — it was a mess.”
Kavion, the eldest of four brothers, just started high school and loved his family, Alena Godfrey, Kavion's great-aunt, previously told The New York Daily News.
"He's a quiet child," she told the newspaper, adding that the family 'everything' together.
A GoFundMe has been established for Kavion Brown
A GoFundMe set up for Kavion said the teen was "full of spirit" and had "touched so many."
"Kavion's smile lit up a room and he offered it to us so freely," read a message on the fundraising page.
"Kavion loved being active and took his responsibilities very seriously, among them being a loving big brother," the GoFundMe page stated.
"Thank you for loving Kavion and the Godfrey Family. Let's cover them in love and support and continue to spread Kavion's light forever," the message continued.
Over $9,000 has been raised as of Saturday morning, October 28.