Although no official confirmation has been received, multiple reports from the King High School community have identified the missing person as 18-year-old Je Sani Smith.
Counselors are at King High School to meet with students after Smith’s disappearance.
Smith was a member of the school’s basketball and football teams. King assistant basketball coach Evan Hartlaub reacted to his disappearance in this tweet released this morning.
Je Sani was one of those kids that you say was a pleasure to coach. Respectful, coachable, a great teammate, and a great kid. I am at a loss of words. I just want to tell you “thank you”. Thank you for all you have done for Your family and for King. #Family #GRIT #SANI pic.twitter.com/j3GAaIFeUu
— Coach Hartlaub (@CoachHartlaub) April 12, 2019
The incident occurred yesterday shortly before 4 p.m. Thursday when two teens lost sight of one of their friends while they all were swimming off Whitecap Beach.
The two were able to make it back to shore safely. Then, rescue operations began for the missing young man.
Overnight, the U.S. Coast Guard continued their search by air, using both a helicopter and an airplane.
After concluding their search last night at sunset, the Corpus Christi Fire Department was back out at the beach at daylight.
Additionally, a Dolphin helicopter and 45-foot boat have been deployed from the Coast Guard attachment in Port Aransas. Other apparatus that have been added include the Coast Guard Cutter Benjamin Daily and an HC 144 medium-range airplane.
This morning, the King High School Band tweeted a link to a GoFundME page that has been set up to raise money for the family’s expenses.
We’ll have more on this breaking story as it develops. Join us for more on our shows at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
A GoFundMe account has been set up for Je’Sani Smith’s Mother. Je’Sani is an 18 year seniør from King High School. He was at the beach yesterday with some of his friends. He was swept away by the current and the coast… https://t.co/dvFqZvfmBx
— MightyMustangBand (@KingMustangBand) April 12, 2019
