Missing 8-Year-Old Boy with Autism Found in Skokie

Updated 9:30 p.m.:

Brooklyn Venter has been found safe and sound, according to WGN. He was located in a stairwell near where he went missing at Old Orchard Mall.

Original story posted 5:30 p.m.

The following is from the Skokie Police Department:

On Thursday, September 25, 2014, at 1:45 p.m., the Skokie Police Department was notified by the family of Brooklyn Venter that he was missing. Brooklyn is believed to have wandered away from his family. Brooklyn is a non-verbal autistic, white, 8-year-old boy who is 4’6”, 75 lbs., with brown hair, brown eyes and wears glasses.

He was last seen in the area of the LL Bean department store, which is located in the Westfield at Old Orchard Shopping Mall, 4999 Old Orchard Rd., Skokie. Brooklyn was wearing a gray t-shirt with aqua blue writing, navy blue pants and flip-flop shoes.

Brooklyn will not respond to his name if called. He likes traffic, bridges and escalators.

The Skokie Police Department is actively searching for Brooklyn. If you have any information regarding Brooklyn’s whereabouts, please contact the Skokie Police Department at 9-1-1.