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Missing Special Olympics athlete found in Inglewood
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screenshot from LAXPD
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4:50 p.m.: Olympian found in Inglewood
An autistic teenage Special Olympics athlete who vanished from Los Angeles International Airport has been found.
15-year-old Ange Ismael Kone of the Ivory Coast was located in Inglewood.
At a press conference, LAPD Commander Dennis Kato said that the teen had been spotted sleeping on the ground on the 600 block of East Hyde Park, more than four miles from LAX. He was wearing a Special Olympics lanyard.
Kato said that Kone had not committed a crime and was not being treated as a criminal. He said police were still interviewing him to determine why he had left his group and if any foul play occurred while he was missing.
Kone's delegation stayed behind after he went missing, and the LAPD's Kato said they will be reunited.
Prior to going missing, he was last seen around 6 a.m. Monday walking out of a terminal. Security camera showed the French-speaking teen in a black shirt leaving the airport.
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—KPCC Staff & Associated Press
11:18 a.m.: LAX looking for at-risk Special Olympics athlete
Shortly after a missing Special Olympics athlete was found, an athlete has disappeared, this time from LAX.
Police were searching for Ange Ismael Kone, a 15-year-old Special Olympics athlete from the Ivory Coast, who wandered off from Terminal 5 at LAX at 6:30 a.m. Monday, L.A. Airport Police PIO Rob Edregon told KPCC. Isimel, who is diagnosed with slight autism, competed in table tennis.
Later surveillance footage showed him across the 96th Street bridge next to the LAX exit at Sepulveda.
https://twitter.com/LAAirportPD/status/628260931441594369
LAX Police began the search, which has since been taken over by LAPD Pacific Division.
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https://twitter.com/LAAirportPD/status/628298527349739520
"Airport police have been scouring the area — eating establishments, hotels — anywhere that we might be able to locate the individual," Edregon said.
Ange Ismael Kone was last seen wearing an orange shirt with “Special Olympics” printed on it in white letters and black pants. He speaks only French.
Anyone who sees him or has any information about his whereabouts is urged to call police at 310-646-4268.
https://twitter.com/LAAirportPD/status/628240737780404227
This story has been updated.
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