Local family thanks JSO for finding children who were missing for hours in Paxon neighborhood

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two local boys gave their family a scare this morning after they were reported missing in the Paxon neighborhood.

Thankfully, it turned out to be a happy ending once police found them safe.

JSO had been searching for them for hours along Detroit Street where the boys were last seen.

Action News Jax was there for the heartwarming moment when one of the young boys was returned home to his family.

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Ten-year-old Braylon was reunited with his family just after 9 a.m.

“And I really appreciate everybody because they didn’t have to do that, but he’s safe and I appreciate that,” Latoria Foster, Braylon’s mother, said.

Foster told us she called the police just after 1 a.m. after she didn’t hear from her son for hours.

That call started an all-out search on foot, by car, and even in the air to find 10-year-old Braylon and 11-year-old J’Quan.

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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office even set up a command center at the nearby Paxon School for Advanced Studies.

“They made sure they stayed out all night looking for him and made sure that he came home safe,” Foster said.

Braylon’s family told Action News Jax that the boys ended up at a friend’s house but never told their parents where they were, causing his entire family to worry.

“I can’t explain it. I can’t explain it. I can sit and talk for hours trying to tell you what was going through my head, but just to see him. I’m glad I’m happy,” Mario Atwaters said.

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Foster said that once the friend’s family saw their faces plastered all over the news, they immediately called the police and JSO sent one final tweet letting everyone know the kids had been found safe.

“Thank JSO for their service, they were out and on it this morning,” Foster said.

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