Name released for boy who jumped into Des Moines River

Des Moines police released the name of a boy that jumped into a river Saturday night and still hasn't resurfaced.

Abou Sheriff, 12, was swimming with three other children, ages 9, 11 and 12, near the north bank of the Des Moines River just east of the 6th Street bridge, according to a police news issued Sunday morning. Sheriff jumped into the water but didn't resurface sometime before 8:06 p.m., when emergency responders were contacted.

According to Sgt. Jason Halifax of the Des Moines Police Department, four boys between the age 9 and 13 were jumping into the Des Moines River from a dock at the Des Moines Power Boat Club on Birdland Drive. When one did not resurface, Halifax said, another child found the first person available and called 911.

Emergency responders were called to the scene at 8:06 p.m.

The Des Moines Fire Department water emergency team placed boats in the river to attempt to locate the missing boy.

Dan Burke of the Des Moines Fire Department said rescuers struggled to find the boy because of the water's depth in the area. Burke estimates the depth where the boy jumped in to be near 15 feet.

Shortly after 10 p.m., the fire crews exhausted their efforts and turned search efforts over to a police and county dive teams.

Divers were underwater until about midnight but couldn't find a body. Halifax said Saturday night that it is unlikely that the boy has resurfaced and the search is now more than likely a recovery effort.

Des Moines police have been monitoring the river banks and the area just south of the Center Street dam throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning for signs of Sheriff.

Sheriff will be listed as a missing person until he is recovered, the news release stated.