SOUTH CAROLINA — Authorities are actively searching for a missing 11-year-old boy in Kershaw County.
Jaydence Johnson was reported missing late Tuesday night by the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office.
The search is centered around the 3000 block of Hunter Road in Kershaw, a rural area between U.S. 601 and U.S. 1 in the Midlands region.
Initially, officials believed Jaydence was lost, but by 11:30 p.m., the sheriff’s office said they suspect he may be a runaway.
According to a statement, Jaydence told someone at school on Tuesday that he planned to leave home and go to a friend’s house “that can hide him,” though authorities do not know which friend he meant.
Deputies have been joined by K9 units and drone teams in their efforts to locate the boy.
Jaydence was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and blue shorts and carrying a black and gray book bag.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call 911 immediately.
