Ebony Alert Issued for 3 Missing San Leandro Teens
An Ebony Alert has been issued for three teenagers who were last seen in San Leandro. Authorities are asking the public to stay vigilant and report any information on their whereabouts.
The three teenagers at the center of the Ebony Alert are 17-year-old Kallyah Jones, 16-year-old Xyer Thomas, and 15-year-old London Scott. They were last seen together around 6:20 p.m. on Friday near 163rd Avenue and East 14th Street. According to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, the teens had made plans to go somewhere together and were reported missing by their families. Detailed descriptions of the teens have been released. Kallyah Jones is 5 feet 6 inches tall, 160 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, and was last seen in a black puffer jacket, blue jeans, and a black hooded sweater. Xyer Thomas is 5 feet 10 inches, 152 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, and was wearing a black long-sleeve shirt, black pants, and black and white shoes. London Scott is 5 feet 4 inches, 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, last seen in a black coat, a white shirt with blue print, light blue jeans, and white and black shoes. The Ebony Alert is a relatively new system in California, signed into law in October 2023 and implemented on January 1, 2024. It was created through Senate Bill 673, authored by State Senator Steven Bradford, to address the disproportionate number of missing Black children and young women. The system is designed for missing Black youth between the ages of 12 and 25. This alert system was established to address disparities in how missing persons cases are handled. Black children are often disproportionately classified as "runaways," which can limit the police resources allocated to their cases and reduce media attention compared to cases that trigger an Amber Alert. Statistics show that while Black individuals make up a fraction of the population, they account for a significantly higher percentage of missing persons cases. For an Ebony Alert to be activated, law enforcement must determine that the missing person is in danger or has disappeared under unexplained or suspicious circumstances. This can include potential trafficking, endangerment to their physical safety, or if they are in the company of a dangerous person. The California Highway Patrol is authorized to disseminate the information through electronic highway signs and encourages broadcast media to share the alert. The public plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of an Ebony Alert. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the three teens is urged to call 911 immediately. Providing details such as location, descriptions of individuals, and any vehicle information can be vital to a successful recovery.
