2 boys found dead in separate Manhattan rivers may have been playing at water’s edge

Two youthful lads, previously reported as absent in the preceding week, were subsequently discovered lifeless in separate rivers within the confines of Manhattan. It is suggested that their final sightings transpired along the water's edge, engaged in jovial pursuits, as per information provided by an official within the law enforcement apparatus.

Alfa Barrie, aged 11, and Garrett Warren, aged 13, were observed in each other's company in the Harlem vicinity during the span of May 12 to May 13, before their disappearances were registered at different intervals, as communicated by the New York Police Department. The nautical division of the department, over the course of several days, eventually retrieved the lifeless bodies of these adolescents, located at a considerable distance from one another—Alfa in the Harlem River and Garrett in the Hudson River.

Garrett met his demise through an inadvertent submergence, while the circumstances and nature of Alfa’s passing remain subject to elucidation following an inquiry conducted on Sunday, in accordance with the office of the medical examiner. The aforementioned source within law enforcement has disclosed corroborative testimony from another adolescent purportedly present at the scene. This account avers that Alfa and Garrett were engaged in recreation at the water's edge. It suggests that one of the young boys playfully nudged the other towards the water, culminating in a joint descent into its watery depths.

A third youth briefly observed this interaction but did not witness their resurfacing or emergence from the aqueous expanse. Several hours later, this witness approached an adult who, in turn, summoned emergency services through a call to 911, providing a detailed account of the situation to the police, as recounted by the aforementioned source.

The police swiftly summoned maritime units and divers to the scene, yet their efforts failed to discern either of the boys amidst the waters. Subsequent to an extensive search employing both boats and helicopters, Garrett's lifeless form was recovered on a Thursday within the Harlem River, near the Madison Avenue Bridge that connects the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. Two days thereafter, the police located Alfa's remains in the Hudson River, proximate to the Upper West Side.

Given the absence of surveillance cameras in the vicinity, investigators are presently immersed in the task of reconstructing the footsteps of these young individuals leading up to the incident, as elucidated by the aforementioned source.

The disappearance of Alfa was documented in the early hours of May 14, while Garrett's absence was recorded during the afternoon of May 15, according to the pronouncements of the police.

Despite attending distinct educational institutions, these two youths were recognized as close companions. Authorities established a connection between the two cases following Garrett's disappearance. A family acquaintance, Adhmadou Diallo, shared that the young lad maintained a strong bond with his mother and diligently contributed to domestic responsibilities. "Each morning, he would bid his mother farewell with a tender kiss before embarking on his journey to school—a scene that played out as usual on the fateful Friday when he left," Diallo disclosed to the news outlet.

ABC 7 reported that Alfa was a sixth-grade student at Democracy Prep Public School in Harlem, an establishment that expressed profound sorrow for the loss of this witty, astute, discerning, inquisitive, and valiant young individual.

"Our educators and fellow students deeply mourn his absence," the educational institution conveyed. "Our heartfelt condolences also extend to the family of Alfa’s comrade, Garrett Warren. Though not a student here, we understand that this is an immensely challenging period for his community, and we offer our sincere sympathy to them."