Austin, Texas – The search intensifies for 17-year-old Edward April Gonzales, who has been missing since early Friday morning, August 9, 2024. Gonzales was last seen at 3:31 a.m. leaving on a bike with black and lime green accents. He was wearing a dark hoodie, jeans, and grey and white high-top Jordan shoes. He also carried a black and navy blue Nike backpack.
Gonzales is believed to be attempting to blend in with the homeless community in downtown Austin, according to messages found on Discord. Despite these leads, the police have not made significant progress in locating him, prompting the community to take action.
Amanda McDaniel, a relative, shared a post on Facebook urging anyone in the Austin area to help in the search. "We’re getting a search team together to go downtown Austin today," she stated, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The community has responded with an outpouring of concern and support. Mindy Halsey commented, "Praying he is found safely," while others like Rey-Candy Boone and Darlyne Anders Paris echoed these sentiments, expressing their hopes for his safe return.
Cindy Lee, another concerned community member, added, "Praying for him to come home," while Regina Sanchez noted that she had shared the post to spread awareness.
In a heartfelt message, Rosa Pena offered hope, saying, "Prayers going out to you. Hopefully, he is just wanting to spread his wings and figure out how much he has and start missing it, and find his way back home soon."
The situation remains dire, and the community is urged to remain vigilant. Anyone with information on Edward April Gonzales’s whereabouts is asked to call or text 512-318-7799 immediately. The search continues, and the community’s collective efforts could be crucial in bringing Edward back home safely.