Buffalo police are asking the public for help finding a 12-year-old boy who has not been seen recently. Tarell Johnson stands about 4 feet 11 inches tall and weighs around 145 pounds.
He has brown, curly hair that covers his eyes. Investigators say he was last seen wearing a red, gray, and blue T-shirt with sweatpants, and he may be wearing Crocs or black New Balance sneakers.
Authorities believe Tarell could be somewhere near the McCarley Apartments or the basketball court close to that complex.
Officers have not released details about when or where he was last confirmed to be seen, but they are urging residents in that part of the city to keep an eye out for him.
Family and volunteers with missing persons groups have joined the search effort, sharing his photo and description online in hopes that someone in the community will recognize him. Advocates say tips from neighbors often make the difference in cases like this, especially when a child is believed to still be in a familiar area.
What Police Are Asking the Public to Do
The Buffalo Police Department is asking anyone who sees Tarell or who has information about where he might be to call 911 right away. Officers have not indicated whether they consider him to be in danger, but any case involving a missing child is treated as urgent by local law enforcement.
Community members are also being encouraged to share flyers and social media posts about Tarell so the information reaches as many people as possible. Groups that track missing children cases say wide public awareness, even a single shared post, has helped locate other young people quickly in the past.
No additional details have been released about the circumstances that led to Tarell going missing. Police have not said whether he left on his own, was with anyone else, or if there are concerns tied to his safety beyond the standard urgency given to any missing child report.
For now, investigators are focused on searching the area around the apartment complex and basketball court where he was believed to be. Anyone with information, no matter how small it may seem, is asked to reach out to police immediately rather than wait, since early tips are often the most useful in locating a missing child.
