Brian Knight doesn’t know what happened to his brother, or where he is. But he knows the 14-year-old wouldn’t have intentionally gotten into the Yellow River.
“I don’t believe that he would get into the water and swim, because he hardly knew how to swim,” Knight told Channel Action News on Monday.
Jaheem McGhee has been missing since Thursday, when, according to Knight, he and a few friends were skipping classes at Gwinnett's Parkview High School. They reportedly tried to cross the Yellow River to get away from a truancy officer.
“They were telling him, ‘Let go of your bags, let go of your bags,’” Knight told Channel 2. “They say he wasn’t listening and they were standing there screaming his name, and they got on land and were screaming his name for a while, then they left.”
For reasons unknown, McGhee wasn't reported missing until late the next day. Gwinnett police searched the river Friday, Saturday and Sunday with divers and cadaver dogs, but to no avail. They suspended their search and, on Monday, were "evaluating what their next step in the search efforts will be," Cpl. Michele Pihera said.
McGhee is described as 5-foot-5 and 120 pounds with a slim build. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police.
“I hope he’s OK and just somewhere hiding out,” Knight told Channel 2.
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