Family of Missing Boy Asks Help

Police and the tearful relatives of a missing 14-year-old Los Angeles boy on Wednesday issued a plea for information about the youth.

Authorities said they have no reason to believe that Taj Cooper was a victim of foul play. But because he has learning disabilities and a speech impediment, “there’s some question of whether he can take care of himself on the street,” said Los Angeles Police Detective L.J. Jones. However, authorities suspect that the boy may be staying with friends.

Taj has not been seen by his family since he left his grandmother’s apartment on South Oxford Avenue on Oct. 1 to take out the trash, though children saw him playing in the area the next day.

“Please contact me, please call me. Please let me know he’s all right,” implored Maria Cooper, the boy’s grandmother and legal guardian.

Taj is black, weighs about 100 pounds, is about 5-foot-3 and has a slight mustache. He was last seen wearing a purple T-shirt and faded blue jeans. Anyone with information about Taj should call Detective Yvonne Parker at 485-4033 or, after 3:30 p.m., call 485-2504.