Missing North Las Vegas boy found unharmed at Sam’s Town

A 5-year-old North Las Vegas boy who had been missing since Wednesday afternoon was found early Thursday evening, officials said.

The boy, Amari Connor, was located at Sam’s Town about 6:20 p.m., North Las Vegas police spokeswoman Ann Cavaricci said.

The man Connor was last seen with — Shaquille Pierce, a 22-year-old family friend who had permission to take the child with him Wednesday afternoon — was taken into custody and is facing kidnapping charges.

Red Rock Search and Rescue, the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI were involved in the search for Connor, who had not been seen since about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, when he walked away from his home near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Cheyenne Avenue with Pierce.

Police said the boy was unharmed and OK, but hospital staff were checking him out as a precaution Thursday evening.

Authorities found Connor, thanks to an investigative lead that pointed to Sam’s Town. At that point, authorities contacted the hotel, and the hotel worked with authorities in locating Connor.

Cavaricci said Connor’s family members “know that he is safe and OK,” adding that they were relieved to hear the news “as we all were.”

An Amber Alert was not issued after Connor’s disappearance because the circumstances did not meet the criteria for such an alert, Cavaricci said.

Review-Journal writer Lawren Linehan contributed to this story. Contact Rachel Corsby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Find @rachelacrosby on Twitter.