Search Intensifies for Missing 5-Year-Old

Police say they are committing significant resources to find Hassani Campbell

An intense search is underway for a missing boy with cerebral palsy who was last seen in Oakland Monday afternoon

Five-year-old Hassani Campbell of Fremont was reported missing from the area of 6000 College Avenue, according to the Oakland police youth services unit.

Police say that the fiance of Hassani's foster mother dropped the boy off at a shoe store where the mother works at about 4:20 p.m. He left the boy in the car and walked to the storefront to unlock the door, but when he returned, Hassani was gone.

Crews combed the neighborhood with K9 search dogs and even blocked off a couple streets during the search. They asked neighbors to check their basements and back yards to make sure the boy had not wandered into one of the other buildings.

The boy, who wears leg braces to walk and is considered at risk, was still missing as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

"We treat any missing child as someone in danger because it's unusual," said Trevor Mackson of the Oakland Police Department. "Hopefully he's somewhere safe and we find him soon."

Hassani is described as a black boy with light complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. He is around 3 feet tall and weighs around 40 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and gray pants.

Police towed the man's car as part of the investigation and are showing his picture to neighbors in order to corroborate his story. They have also interviewed the boy's biological parents. The FBI is also investigating.

Meanwhile, the owner of an East Bay t-shirt shop passed out fliers around the neighborhood in the hopes of bringing Campbell home. 

Anyone with information regarding Hassani's whereabouts should call Oakland police youth services at 510-238-3641, or call 911 if he is believed to be in immediate danger.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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