DeKalb County officers are urgently asking for help to find the family of a young, non-verbal boy who was discovered running in the street in Lithonia on Friday morning. Around 11 a.m., police were called to the 1600 block of Laurel Creek Circle after reports of a child darting into the road. When officers arrived, the boy was alone — unable to tell them where he lived or who he was.
According to DeKalb County Police, the situation is complicated because the child is non-verbal. He was unable to communicate his address, name, or any identifying information, making standard outreach methods impossible. Over the course of the day, officers canvassed the area, searched nearby homes, and tried to locate anyone who might recognize him — but all their efforts came up empty.
With no guardian or relative found, the boy was eventually transported to a hospital for evaluation and basic care. DeKalb Police are hopeful that once he’s stable, he might be able to provide clues — or others might recognize him, prompting someone to call in.
The department is asking anyone who recognizes this child to reach out immediately. You can dial 911, or call the non-emergency number at (404) 294-2911 to report any information. For those who prefer to stay anonymous, tips can be submitted through the DeKalb County PD Tip411 app, or by texting “DKPD” to 847411, followed by your message.
This heartbreaking moment raises not just questions about where this boy’s family is — but deeper fears about a vulnerable child out in the world alone. It’s unclear how long he’d been wandering before police found him, or whether he escaped or became separated somehow. But the fact that he couldn’t speak to identify himself has only made this case more urgent.
DeKalb County’s E-911 Communications Center emphasizes that while 911 is for life-threatening emergencies, non-emergency calls like these can and should go to 404-294-2911 — especially when someone’s safety, identity, or family connections are at risk.
For now, the community stands with law enforcement in hope: someone out there knows this boy. A face, a name, a detail — anything — could bring him home.
