Authorities in Maryland are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 7-year-old boy named Khalil Rodney Ringgold, who is the subject of an AMBER Alert. Ringgold was last seen getting into a car with a man who is believed to be known to him outside of Churchville Elementary in Churchville. The car in question is a gray 2022 Nissan Altima with Ohio license plate JFK3146. Ringgold is described as a Black male with black hair and brown eyes, standing at 3 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 32 pounds. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should contact the Harford County Sheriff’s Office at 410-612-1717.
The AMBER Alert system is a nationwide notification system used to inform the public about missing children under the age of 18. The alerts are disseminated through various channels such as radio, TV, road signs, cellphones, and other data-enabled devices to maximize visibility and reach. According to data from last year, 1,200 children were found because of the AMBER Alert system and 180 children were rescued as a result of the emergency alerts. In order for an alert to be issued, specific criteria must be met, including the occurrence of an abduction, the child being at risk of serious injury or death, and having descriptive information about the child, suspect, or suspect’s vehicle.
Alan S. Nanavaty, Executive Director of Special Programs for the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, explained that the main goal of an AMBER Alert is to quickly mobilize the community to assist in the search and safe recovery of a missing child. On average, fewer than 200 AMBER Alerts are issued each year, reaching across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Indian country, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children employs different methods, including poster and social media distribution, to amplify AMBER Alerts to the public and increase chances of locating missing children.
Current data from 2022 shows the distribution of AMBER Alerts by state, with Texas having the highest number of alerts issued. In addition to Khalil Ringgold, there is another active AMBER Alert for a missing 15-year-old boy named Sebastian Rogers in Tennessee. Rogers has been missing since February 26 and was last seen at his mother and stepfather’s home in Sumner County. Described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing around 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, Rogers was last seen wearing black sweatpants and a black sweatshirt. Any information about his whereabouts should be reported to the Sumner County Emergency Communications Center at 615-451-3838 or the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
As the search for Khalil Rodney Ringgold and Sebastian Rogers continues, authorities emphasize the importance of public participation in providing information that could lead to the safe recovery of these missing children. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and the community plays a crucial role in the success of locating and rescuing abducted children. AMBER Alerts serve as a critical tool in raising awareness and mobilizing resources to bring missing children home safely, highlighting the significance of swift action and public vigilance in such situations.
