Gaithersburg

$10,000 Reward Offered for Locating Missing 6-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Update: The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has confirmed that the body of Fawzan Hassan, a 6-year-old boy who went missing on Saturday, July 27, has been recovered from a pond in Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg.

Previous update: The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) held a press conference on Sunday afternoon to provide an update on the search for Fawzan Hassan, a 6-year-old boy who went missing on Saturday, July 27

Hassan, who is non-verbal and Autistic, was last seen at approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday at a playground at Bohrer Park (506 S Frederick Ave) in Gaithersburg.  He is wearing a green shirt, blue jeans, and blue and white sneakers.

Members of the Ethiopian Silt’e community, who were hosting an event at the park when the child went missing, are offering a $10,000 reward for anyone who finds Hassan. This reward is not associated with MCPD or Montgomery County.

Police are urging residents to check around their property, including under porches and decks, swimming pools, outbuildings, unlocked cars, and nearby playgrounds, as well as review any home surveillance videos.

Residents are also encouraged to print and distribute this flyer around their comminites. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Fawzan Hassan is asked to call 911.

Approaching Non-Verbal Autistic Children:Please call 911 right away. When engaging with a non-verbal autistic child, it is important to approach them calmly and slowly. Avoid making sudden movements or loud noises that might startle them. Speak in a gentle, reassuring tone, even if the child does not respond verbally. Non-verbal autistic children might not respond to their name, so try to use other cues, such as visual signals or familiar objects, to get their attention. Most importantly, ensure the child’s safety and wait for police to arrive.