Tacoma police were looking Thursday for Jeffery A. Zupan, 11, and Zabian T. Welcome, 9, who were last seen about 5 p.m. Wednesday.
They left Welcome’s home in the 5400 block of South Cedar Street, where they had been playing, Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said.
The boys took off after a disagreement with a family member who had been watching the boys, Fulghum said.
“They were together and there was a little confrontation, disagreement with (a female caregiver), which apparently upset them and they both took off,” Fulghum said.
Both boys have apparently run away before, though not for as long or together, Fulghum said.
“With the temperatures being in the 90s (Thursday), it’s just time to get them back and get everybody reunited,” Fulghum said.
The two boys frequent Wapato Park and Skip Vaughn Park, police said.
“She always kept a very close eye on him and he was always in the yard,” said neighbor Britni Benavidez of Welcome’s aunt. Benavidez said she would sometimes watch him as he played with her siblings.
“Something is up, because he would always come back.”
Jeffery is described as 4 feet, 9 inches and 85 pounds. He was last seen wearing khaki shorts, a colorful shirt and black hightops.
Zabian is described as 4 feet, 1 inch and 75 pounds. He was last seen wearing dark blue shorts.
A Pierce County Alert was sent Thursday night about the boys. The emergency notification system distributes information, such as about missing persons, to those who sign up.
Fulghum said police and search-and-rescue crews were out looking for the boys Thursday night.
Anyone with information is asked to call Tacoma police at 253-798-4722.
alexis.krell@ thenewstribune.com
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