Who: Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Area Captain Smith and Captain Craig, Family Members of Critical Missing Child

What: Requesting Public’s Help in Locating Critical Missing Child

When: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 7:30 a.m.

Where: Foshay Learning Center, 3751 Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles

Los Angeles: On Monday, August 18, 2003, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., 12 year-old critical missing child Kevin Cooper never returned home after school.

Kevin was last seen at the Foshay Learning Center located at 3751 Harvard Boulevard in the City of Los Angeles. Witnesses at the school say that Kevin never boarded the bus to go home.

Kevin has the mental capacity of a 5-year-old child, is blind in one eye and visually impaired in the other. He is 5’-3", 100 pounds and was last seen wearing a blue long sleeve hooded sweatshirt, a white collared polo shirt, dark blue pants and black shoes. Kevin has a light colored complexion, a short afro style hair cut and he wears thick eye glasses.

A photograph of Kevin will be made available to the media at the press conference and at the LAPD Media Relations Office, 150 North Los Angeles Street Room 626, Los Angeles.

Anyone with information regarding Kevin’s whereabouts is urged to call the Southwest Area Police Station at 213-485-2582. On weekends and during off-hours, contact the 24-hour toll Free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL, 1-877-529-3855.

This press release was prepared by Public Information Officer Renee’ Montoya, Media Relations Section, 213-485-3586.