Police in Tallahassee have found a Florida State University student who went missing Wednesday, the Leon County Sheriff's Office said on Twitter.
"WE FOUND HIM...ALIVE!!!" the department tweeted.
Police said Justin Dean Shields, 19, went missing on Sept. 5. His car was found on a local road Friday near a heavily wooded area. After finding the vehicle, sheriff's deputies - along with FSU police, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and multiple other agencies - worked to locate the missing student.
Police dispatched K9 and aviation units to try and find Shields, who attended Coral Reef High School in Miami-Dade County. Around 4 p.m. Sunday, police and Shields' sister, Ashley, confirmed the 19-year-old student had been found in a wooded area miles away from the main roadway, Old Magnolia Road.
Officers said Shields was found with the help of search dogs who took police to the student's location through a scent trail. Shields was dehydrated and scratched up when officers found him, but is in good health otherwise and expected to recover.
Shields' family and friends are overjoyed and grateful that their loved one is okay.
"My brother, Justin Shields, has been found alive. Thank everyone so much for helping us search. We couldn’t have done this without you all and the lord. God is more than good," his sister Ashley said on Twitter.
This is a developing story and will be updated. Please check back for more updates.
