Missing 7-year-old Jamal White has been found safe, Milwaukee police confirm

Update: Milwaukee police have arrested three men at addresses tied to the abduction of 7-year-old Jamal White.

Jamal White, the 7-year-old abducted at gunpoint on July 11 outside his Milwaukee home, has been found and is safe, according to the Milwaukee Police Department.

White was taken from around 6200 West Hustis Street on the city's northwest side and put into a white Jeep Renegade by an unknown man in a black face mask. Milwaukee police said in a late afternoon statement July 12 that the boy had been found.

"Jamal has a been located and is safe," Milwaukee police said in a statement at 6:36 p.m. July 12. "The Milwaukee Police Department would like to thank everyone for their assistance in this matter."

Sun peeked through the clouds at the intersection of 39th and Lloyd on Milwaukee's northwest side around 7 p.m., as a large number of residents gathered after the news that White had been found.

Police tape blocked off the 2040 block of 39th St. and several officers were observed.

Nikki Harrington, one of White’s cousins, said she was excited and relieved when she found out White was found alive. She said family received a tip, notified police and immediately went to the area.

Harrington said White was being checked out at a hospital. She said she did not have any information about what had occurred and that the family would wait for the police department to conduct an investigation.

“We appreciate the community,” Harrington said. “It was definitely a team effort.”

White, who is known as "Baby J" is sweet, playful and charismatic, his cousin Raven Jackson told the Journal Sentinel earlier in the day. The 7-year-old loves cars, cartoons and music — and "just enjoys being him," she said.

Jackson and a group of about 75 friends, family and community members met at Carmen Park early in the afternoon of July 12, then set out to comb the city for signs of White.

Family had been searching on the night of July 11, when an Amber Alert was issued, until the early morning hours, Jackson said.

More: Amber Alert issued for 7-year-old Jamal White, abducted in Milwaukee

"You wouldn't think someone would do anything to a child," Harrington said. "I just want Baby J to come home."

Family who organized the July 12 search passed out flyers with photos of White's face and the vehicle police say he was placed into. They asked those gathered to spare no detail in their search — to check businesses, gas stations and wooded areas, to go door to door and ask people to search their homes and cars.

The crowd split up into four groups, assigned to White's neighborhood and other areas where they say a similar vehicle has been reported.

Some expressed frustration about the time it took for an Amber Alert to be issued and for word to spread about what happened. But above all, they asked the community to keep searching, to elevate the news of White's disappearance and report any tips to the police.

Those gathered were well aware of the violent way White was taken and what dangers there could still be as the search unfolds.

"I'm scared," said Lorien Carter, who spoke to the group before they split up. "But I'm more scared that my children can't ride their bikes" without being at risk, she said. Video footage from a neighbor's doorbell camera appears to show White riding his bike in front of his residence prior to being taken.

Carter, who identified herself as the aunt of Tony Robinson, an unarmed 19-year-old shot and killed by Madison police in 2015, said it's "not our first rodeo" when it comes to looking for missing children. She said she has young children the same age as White. It strengthened her resolve to do something.

Like many others at the park, Milwaukee resident Nathan Butler didn't know White but showed up to help. He took flyers and was planning to go with a group to areas the boy might have been. He asked the community to be alert, and "if you see something, say something."

Police describe the suspect as Black, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black face mask.

Madeline Heim is a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@gannett.com.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Missing 7-year-old Jamal White has been found safe: Milwaukee police