Fifteen-year-old Jafet Jemmott went missing after leaving his Rockaways home at about 6 a.m. on Nov. 28. His family says he had argued with his father the night before about plans to visit a thrift store in Brooklyn and Kings Plaza mall. Phone tracking showed his device had about 5% battery and the last recorded location was near the Cross Bay Bridge; relatives believe he may have boarded the Q52 bus. The family also says Jafet received WhatsApp messages hours earlier and they worry he may have been persuaded to meet someone he connected with online.
Missing Teen: 15-Year-Old Jafet Jemmott Disappears After Leaving Rockaways Home Following Argument
NYPD 100th PrecinctJafet Jemmott
A 15-year-old boy from the Rockaways is missing after leaving home early on Nov. 28 and not returning. The NYPD confirmed that Jafet Jemmott was last seen departing his residence at about 6 a.m., and his family has been searching for answers since.
What Happened
According to family members and local reports, Jafet argued with his father the night before he disappeared. Federico Jemmott told reporters the dispute centered on Jafet’s plans to visit a thrift store in Brooklyn and later go to Kings Plaza mall with friends. Federico said, "The last conversation we had was me arguing with him about [how] he cannot go." He added that he doesn’t want to dwell on the fight and hopes his son will forgive him.
Phone Tracking And Where He Was Last Seen
The family used a phone-tracking app and saw the device had roughly 5% battery when Jafet left the house. The last recorded location before the phone lost power was near the Cross Bay Bridge. Relatives believe Jafet boarded the Q52 bus after leaving home, though he never arrived at the mall.
Online Contacts And Concerns
Federico said the teen received several WhatsApp messages about two hours before he left, according to the phone company. The family has not been able to view the messages or identify the sender. "My theory is that maybe he was speaking to someone online," Federico told a local outlet. "They probably convinced him to leave the house that day and he left."
NYPD 100th PrecinctJafet Jemmott
Search Efforts And Description
Jafet attends Midwood High School and, according to the NYPD and his family, does not have a history of running away. Local activists organized a search on Dec. 7, distributing flyers and canvassing the Cross Bay area.
Physical Description: The NYPD describes Jafet as 5 feet 6 inches tall, about 140 lbs., with a slim build, brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black sweater, black pants and white sneakers.
"We are praying for him, not just me and my family but the entire community," Federico said.
How To Help
Anyone with information about Jafet’s whereabouts is asked to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), submit a tip online to the Crime Stoppers website, or message on X at @NYPDTips.
Report compiled from family statements, local outlets and an NYPD notice shared on Dec. 11.
