Milton Police said Friday that a body recovered from a pond by divers is believed to be Nathan Smith, the son of rapper-producer Lil Jon.
They said official confirmation of the identity would come from the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department located the body around 11:53 a.m. Investigators do not suspect foul play.
All the latest developments on Channel 2 Action News at 5:00 p.m.
“However, the Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will continue to treat this as an open and active investigation,” they said in a statement.
Lil Jon, real name Jonathan Smith, said in a statement that he and Nicole Smith, Nathan’s mother, were devasted and heartbroken over the loss of their son.
He called his son “the kindest human being you would ever meet” and said he was a caring and passionate man who loved his friends and family and lived live to the fullest.
“We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together we’re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him,” the father said.
He also thanked all of the law enforcement and first response agencies who had helped in the search.
NewsChopper 2 was flying over the scene and captured footage of search crews transporting an apparent body from the pond.
Police ramped up the search for the musician and rapper’s son earlier Friday.
Smith, 27, who also goes by his stage name DJ Young Slade, ran out of his home Tuesday around 6 a.m., according to police.
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Police say the 27-year-old may have been “disoriented” and left his phone behind, leaving his family and friends concerned for his safety.
On Tuesday afternoon, NewsChopper 2 flew over Smith’s neighborhood on Mayfield Road, where Milton officers focused their search.
Friday afternoon, NewsChopper 2 flew back over the scene where a heavy police presence could be seen in that same area.
Channel 2 Action News has reached out to Milton police for more details.
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