After his teenage son Gunner was found safe this morning, South Carolina Pastor Brandon Blair proclaimed God’s faithfulness and thanked search participants.
Gunner Lee Blair, 13, went missing in a wooded area behind his dad’s church on Wednesday evening (April 10). Within hours, search crews comprised of about 100 community members and police officers fanned out from Langston Baptist Church in Conway.
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The Conway Police Department said it received a missing-persons report at about 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Officials asked for the public’s help locating Gunner and shared details about the teen’s physical description and clothing. By 9:20 a.m. on Thursday (April 11), the department posted an update, sharing the good news that “Gunner Lee Blair has been located and is safe.”
Public information officer June Wood indicated that the Blair family had tried to locate Gunner themselves before contacting police. According to Wood, the teen was initially considered a runaway, but police are not certain about the nature of Gunner’s disappearance. They are interviewing the teen today.
Pastor Brandon Blair’s Son Found Safe After Overnight Search
In a now-deleted post that he made just before midnight Wednesday, Pastor Brandon Blair shared, “Our son Gunner is missing. He went into the woods behind our church at Langston Church and everyone has been looking including Horry County police.”
“If anyone sees him,” the pastor said, please call me or the police. He is wearing khaki shorts, brown t shirt and blue jacket. Prayers are appreciated.”
On Thursday morning, the relieved father wrote on Facebook, “Gunner is home safe! I want to thank everyone who prayed, searched, and helped spread the word. God is faithful!”
Gunner was reportedly located about two miles from the wooded area near the church. The search for the missing teen had included drones and police dogs, and crews faced wet, rainy conditions. Church and community members had offered a range of assistance and resources, including a kayak to search a nearby swamp.
Community Rallied To Find Pastor’s Missing Son
Conway Christian School, where Gunner is a seventh grade student, also shared gratitude about the teen’s safe return. “We are grateful to the Lord that Gunner has been found safe and is being reunited with his family,” the school posted on its Facebook page Thursday morning.
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“Thank you for all who prayed and assisted in the search for Gunner,” the school added. “It has truly been amazing to see how our community rallied together.”
