Crime
12-year-old Juan Acevedo found deceased in a pond near Mica Avenue in Virginia
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – The body of 12-year-old Juan Sebastian Mejia Acevedo, who was the subject of an AMBER Alert, has been found in a pond near the 200 block of Mica Avenue, close to where he was last seen.
Authorities recovered the body after an extensive search effort near the apartment complex where Juan disappeared. The discovery was confirmed by Virginia Beach Police Chief Paul Neudigate during a press conference on Monday.
“Our marine patrol was out early this morning checking the ponds,” Neudigate said. “Utilizing new sonar technology, we recovered a body approximately eight feet underwater that matches the physical and clothing descriptions of Juan Acevedo.”
While an official identification is still pending from the medical examiner’s office, Virginia State Police have canceled the AMBER Alert, stating the “juvenile has been located.”
Juan’s parents reported him missing Friday evening after he failed to return home from what they believed was a visit to a friend’s house. Police were notified around 9 p.m. after the family was unable to locate him.
Following the family’s public plea for help, they began receiving ransom demands through social media, which led authorities to treat the case as a potential abduction. The AMBER Alert was issued Saturday morning as law enforcement agencies intensified their search efforts.
On Monday, Chief Neudigate emphasized that the decision to search the pond was proactive and not based on any specific tip. “We had no specific intelligence that this might be an area of interest,” he said. “We were simply being thorough and leaving no stone unturned.”
Chief Neudigate stated it is too early to determine whether foul play was involved in Juan’s death. The medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death, which will guide the next steps in the investigation.
Authorities are also investigating the ransom threats made to Juan’s family. The police chief revealed that the family received a demand for $500, which was paid, but no further communication was received.
“One of our theories is that it may have been a scam, but we would be negligent not to treat this as an actual abduction until we know otherwise,” Neudigate explained. “Our detectives are working to determine whether these threats were legitimate or part of a cruel hoax.”
Chief Neudigate extended his condolences to Juan’s family and the broader Virginia Beach community.
“This is a period of grieving for the family, and we will be there to support them during this unimaginably difficult time,” he said.
The Virginia Beach Police Department is continuing its investigation and urges anyone with information related to Juan’s disappearance or the ransom threats to contact them immediately.
For updates or to provide tips, please contact the Virginia Beach Police Department or Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
TAUNTON, Mass. — One person was killed and seven others were injured in an overnight shooting at a house party in Taunton, Massachusetts, authorities said.
The shooting happened at approximately 12:35 a.m. Sunday at a residence in the 261 Weir Street area. Taunton police officers responded after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting gunshots.
When officers arrived, they found several people suffering from gunshot wounds. Investigators were also informed that additional victims had already been transported to area hospitals for medical treatment.
Authorities ultimately identified eight shooting victims, all of whom were reportedly in their early 20s.
One of the victims, 22-year-old Zirovick Depina of Brockton, was pronounced dead early Sunday morning, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
Of the seven surviving victims, one remains in serious but stable condition, while the others suffered injuries that were considered non-life-threatening. Their identities have not been publicly released.
The shooting occurred during a gathering at the residence. Images from the scene showed a tent and tables in the yard, along with white balloons and what appeared to be a photo backdrop near a garage.
A neighbor told authorities that large gatherings and loud parties had reportedly been common at the residence.
The home is located about a mile from the Taunton Police Department headquarters. The neighbor expressed concern about the shooting occurring in the area, particularly given the late-night activity.
The investigation is being conducted by Taunton Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, and other investigative units. Detectives are working to determine what led to the gunfire and identify those responsible.
Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Taunton police or investigators with the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, and additional information is expected as authorities continue gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses.