Volunteers Comb South Shore In Search For Missing 13-Year-Old Boy

CHICAGO —Volunteers combed the streets of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood Sunday morning, distributing and hanging fliers of a 13-year-old boy who has been missing since Oct. 9.

The search party was organized by the Violence Interrupters, NFP, that strives to intervene in gang disputes on the city’s South and West Sides, to reduce the number of homicides, shootings and robberies that are instigated by gang activity and gang retaliations.

A missing person report was filed with Chicago police for Dexter Berry prior to the teen’s disappearance, but was canceled when the young teen returned home on Oct. 8. Another report was filed the next day, when the teen failed to return home, Chicago police said.

“We distributed 100 fliers with the young man’s picture and saturated the community,” said Tio Hardiman, executive director of Violence Interrupters. “We talked to residents walking by on the sidewalk, to people in cars.”

Hardiman told Patch that the length of time Berry has been missing is putting the young teen in increased peril of reckless behavior.

“These young adolescents are so easily influenced, they go off and stay with friends. They do it all the time,” Hardiman said. “They run the streets to a degree, and get in over their heads.”

Dexter left his residence in the Englewood neighborhood last Monday and never returned home. He suffers from ADHD and may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behavior or being overly active. Dexter also suffers from anxiety

The 13-year-old is described as 5-foot-2, 120 pounds, with brown eyes, black hair, and a dark brown complexion. Chicago police said Dexter has been known to frequent the 7700 and 7800 blocks of South Kingston Avenue, where volunteers focused most of their search on Sunday.

“We talked to some young brothers on the street. They’re more open to talking to us than the police,” Hardiman said. "We let them know the guy is just 13. If they see him, they said they’d call us immediately.”

Although the Chicago police did not have a description of Berry’s clothing before he went missing, he may be wearing a gray and green shirt or jacket, gray pants and a green hat, according to Violence Interrupters.

“It’s going to bring unnecessary heat to the gangs and gang area because police are out looking for him,” he added.

Det. Moore, of CPD Area One's Special Victims Unit, said Berry is considered an endangered missing person.

“It’s so dangerous to be on the streets,” the detective told Patch. “I wish everyone cared about these missing children.”

Hardiman asks anyone who sees Berry or knows of his whereabouts to “do the right thing.”

“Tell him to go home or call Violence Interrupters and we’ll come get him,” he said.

Anyone with information or knowledge of Berry’s whereabouts is asked to contact CPD Area One Special Victims Unit at 312-747-8380 or 911.

People can also call the Violence Interrupters hotline, 888-568-7377, or Hardiman directly, 773-391-9072.