Florida

South Florida Teen Who Went Missing in Paris Found Safe

A South Florida teen who was on vacation in Paris when he disappeared five days ago has been found safe, his mother said Monday.

Tariq Aleem Shabazz was supposed to start his first day of Senior year at Coral Reef Senior High School Monday morning. Instead, he went missing in Paris and thousands of people spread the word on social media to help find the 17-year-old.

"The worst feeling a parent can have is losing a child," his mother, Adelee Cabrera, told NBC 6 by phone Monday.

Hours after speaking with NBC 6, Cabrera posted on Facebook that Shabazz was found safe.

"Tariq Aleem has been found, and I would like to politely ask for some privacy as we make our way home and we reunite with our family in Miami. During this time it will be difficult to answer questions and comments but, please know I could not have done this without everyone’s messages of hope and community," she wrote.

Cabrera says on August 15th, the last day of their vacation, her son told her he was going to the hotel gym because he left his headphones. Minutes later, his brother realized he was gone too long and they found a note written by Tariq.

"[The note said] he loved us, that he loved his friends and family but that he felt like his life had no meaning and he was sorry if he was hurting us," Cabrera said.

Tariq left the Paris hotel with two bags, his Florida driver’s permit, a bank card, and a cell phone. His mother refused to leave France until she was reunited with her son.

"He is so loved by us. We are so proud of him and whatever it is that he is going through, which is obviously severe and I was not aware of, we will get through it," Cabrera said.

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