Director Of Community Center Placed On Leave After Boy's Death
SOUTH BOSTON (CBS) -- Mayor Marty Walsh said his heart "breaks for the family" of the little boy found dead in the waters off Carson Beach Tuesday night.
"I just can't imagine the sadness, the anger, what they have today in their hearts," Walsh told reporters Wednesday, a day after he cut short a trip to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia due to the tragedy.
The body of the seven-year-old Kyzr Willis was found about five hours after he was reported missing in the area of the M Street Bath House. He was participating in a "drop-in" summer program run by the city.
There were 56 children at the program Tuesday and approximately 25 counselors. There were also eight lifeguards, a director, supervisor and assistant supervisor.
Kyzr was last seen out of the water and on the sand at about 2:15 p.m. He was supposed to make his way to the bath house to change, but never showed up. Police are investigating what happened in the approximately 30 minutes that Willis was last seen and when he was reported missing.
Walsh met with the family Wednesday afternoon and has offered his support, but would not go into detail about what they talked about.
READ: Family Demands Answers After Boy's Death
At a press conference after the meeting, Walsh announced that the director of the Curley Community Center, where Kyzr went missing, has been placed on paid administrative leave.
He also said the city would launch a review of all of its drop-in day programs and camps by week's end.
The camp had been moved to another site for the day on Wednesday, and noted that children that were at the camp Tuesday, as well as the camp's counselors, were talking to grief counselors. The center will be open for adults on Thursday and will reopen for children on Monday.
The mayor said he never anticipated a situation where someone that goes to a day camp doesn't go home to their parents.
"We run a great program," Walsh said. "We have not had any type of incidents like this ever before."
Walsh said that finding out what happened was difficult due to the fact that there were no surveillance cameras along William J. Day Boulevard. WBZ-TV has learned there are surveillance cameras on the L Street side of the facility, but not the state-owned side.
Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans also spoke about the search and it's tragic ending.
"People always ask me about my job, and what's the worst thing you ever do," said Evans. "What we had to do last night was clearly the worst part of my job."
He said initial information led investigators to believe Willis went outside the building, and that's why their search concentrated toward his house.
"From when we got that call, we worked our best to try to find that poor child," said Evans. "I can't say enough about how my officers tried. It was quite an effort by everyone."
"Growing up here, this is where I spent my childhood, playing handball and whatnot," said Evans. "It's a great community center, and hopefully we'll get through this and have the center open so the kids can go back to enjoying it."
Walsh left the DNC early after being told of what had happened Tuesday.
"I got the word that there was a young boy missing. I did not take part in any of the activities yesterday in Philadelphia," said Walsh. "My place is to be here in the City of Boston to support whoever needs to be supported, the family in particular."
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Ben Parker reports
