7-Year-Old's Death 'Accidental Drowning,' No Foul Play Suspected: Police

BOSTON, MA — Boston Police have determined a missing 7-year-old's death in South Boston was a drowning, an "unfortunate, tragic accident" with no foul play suspected.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans told reporters Friday that his department's investigation showed Kyzr Willis left the waters off Carson Beach with the rest of his city-run drop-in program participants on Tuesday at 2:15 p.m., but then went missing.

A search began as soon as the boy's brother realized he was gone, and police were called in shortly thereafter, about 2:55 p.m. After hours of searching, with all units called in, sonar from a harbor unit picked up an image roughly 20 yards off shore.

A robot was sent down, and the image it picked up "confirmed our worst nightmare," Evans said.

Police divers went down and retrieved the child's body. He was pronounced dead at 7:09 p.m.

"Obviously, the big question here is the timeline, of when he went into the water," the police commissioner said. "Unfortunately, we don't know that time. All we can do is approximate here."

How the 7-year-old got back in the water is "the big mystery" left unsolved, Evans said.

Evans said none of the campers, counselors or life guards interviewed by police saw Willis reenter the water, although some had initially reported seeing him leave through the community center's front door.

An autopsy confirmed the incident was a drowning, and there is nothing suspicious about the death, Evans said.

"I think the whole city is grieving that we lost such a young child," Evans said, describing Willis as having a lot of energy and life. "I've got to say, he was loved. Out of the 56 children there, he was what was described to us as 'a star.'"

Willis and his brother were participants at a summer drop-in program through South Boston's Curley Community Center, run by the city's Boston Centers for Youth and Families.

That program has been put under review, along with all other city-run summer camps and drop-in services, Mayor Marty Walsh said Wednesday. The executive director of the community center there has been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation progresses.

Read More:

• Related: Kyzr Willis Memorial Fund Raising $50K for Family
• After 7-Year-Old's Death, City-Run Summer Programs Under Review, Facility Director on Leave
• Boy Found Dead After Going Missing From Day Camp

Patch will update this story.

>> Photo of Kyzr Willis via Boston Police Department