Amber alert issued for Johnston child

SMITHFIELD — Johnston County authorities continued late today to search for a 3-year-old boy who disappeared from a Smithfield flea-market.

Sinraj Munir Davenport was shopping for fruit with his mother this morning. After she had turned away from the boy to load their purchases in the car, Rosa Davenport, of Four Oaks, turned back to discover her son missing. He was last seen around 11:45 a.m.

She and others at Brightleaf Market, 2320 South Brightleaf Boulevard, searched for the boy for about an hour, and then called the police.

“We don’t know if he’s wandered off or been abducted,” said Sgt. S.S. Jones, of the Smithfield Police Department.

An Amber Alert also was issued law enforcement officials for the child at 4:24 p.m.

But the vendor stalls at the primarily open-air market also are bordered on one side a steep, 20-foot drop-off into the Nuese River. Because of the possibility that the child could have fallen into the river, Smithfield police requested assistance from the Johnston County Sheriff’s Department’s water and search rescue teams. Heavy rain Sunday evening, however, hampered Highway Patrol helicopters joining the search.

Friends of the Davenports huddled Sunday evening under a carport awning on display at a business across the street from the market, while searchers worked in the downpour.

Bridgette Olive and Susie Barbour, also of Four Oaks, said the child, who was nicknamed Raji, was bilingual in Malaysian and English. Barbour taught Raji in pre-school for several years. She remembered a polite and well-behaved boy. “He’s very well spoken,” she said.

“He’s sweet,” Olive said. “He’s real humble.”

Raji was last seen wearing a light blue shirt with a picture of a yellow truck, blue sweat pants and Adidas sneakers. He has dark brown wavy hair, stands three feet tall, brown eyes and weighs 35 pounds.

Those with information on his whereabouts can call Johnston County Emergency Communications at (919) 934-9411.

sam.lagrone@newsobserver.com or 919-836-4951