MOLU Zarpeleh was a 10-year-old boy from South Dakota who was allegedly drowned by older kids.
His body was recovered by police in a privately-owned retention pond, and no charges have been filed.
Loved ones and social media users believe the police department is trying to label the incident as an accident.
Who is Molu Zarpeleh and what happened to him?
Molu Zarpeleh was a 10-year-old boy from Brookings, South Dakota.
He was allegedly drowned by older children in a pond on July 2 after the kids admitted to pushing him in.
Police said the kids later recanted the statement.
Nobody has been charged in the case and the investigation is ongoing.
Zarpeleh was described as an “infectiously bright child” who immigrated to the US with his mother Philimenia and sister at a young age.
“Instead of being reunited with his father for the fourth of July, he was drowned by older kids in Brookings, South Dakota on July 2nd, 2020,” a change.org petition read.
“Kids lured him in, deceived his trust, and subsequently killed him for nothing other than his existence.
“The older kids told their parents what they did and were dismissed.”
The 10-year-old was reported missing around 10 pm on Thursday, according to Brookings Fire Department Chief Darrell Hartmann.
Zarpeleh’s bicycle and sandals were found near a privately-owned retention pond on 12th South Street about 90 minutes after he went missing.
His body was recovered from the pond around 8:40 am.
Creators of the Molu Zarpeleh petition say that the Brookings Police Department is attempting to cover up this “horrific and gruesome act” as an accident.
In a statement released by Brookings PD, cops claim they “received tips related to circumstances surrounding the incident which resulted in an investigation of individuals identified through information sharing.”
Through an ongoing investigation and interviews, they declared that “the claims were not factual.”
Lisa Plummer, Molu’s ESL teacher at Medary Elementary, said Zarpeleh “poured himself into anyone else that needed him or wanted his friendship.”
“I don’t even know what to do right now. I can’t live without my son. I can’t do it without my son. He was my everything. I can’t live without my son. My heart is hurting,” his mother said.
Why is #justiceformolu trending on Twitter?
#Justiceformolu began trending after Twitter caught wind of the tragedy.
“kids lured him to the pond, tricked him into getting in & killed him. Left him. Told their parents what they did. Dismissed. All the while Molu’s parents were looking for him. After he was found then they finally admitted their kids had told them they had killed him. #BrookingsSD” one Twitter user wrote.
Another tweet by a different user echoed the same sentiment.
“Molu Zarpeleh was drowned by older kids. This happened July 2, 2020.
“Brookings Police Department is trying to cover it up as an accident when it was premeditated. Please raise awareness and say his name #JusticeforMolu.“
Social media users continue to express rage and sadness over the young boy’s death.
How do I sign the petition #justiceformolu?
You can sign the #justiceformolu petition here.
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Detectives continue to search for information and gather evidence relating to this ongoing investigation. If you have information, you are asked to call the Brookings Police Department non-emergency line at (605) 692-2113.