An 11-year-old and his friend were pulled from the Hudson River in New York City over the weekend.
Now the families are questioning how the two ended up in the water.
It has been reported that Alfa Barrie enjoyed math, engineering, and checking in with his mother, who does not believe he would venture out into a dangerous situation on the waterfront.
“We still do not understand what happened,” said his uncle, Ahmadou Diallo.
It was noted he didn't know how to swim.
Alfa and friend, 13-year-old Garrett Warren were last seen together between the afternoon of May 12th and the morning of May 13th.
Alfa's body was recovered from the Hudson River on Saturday morning.
Garrett's body was recovered from the Harlem River last Thursday.
There is yet to be an explanation as to how the two ended up on opposite sides of Manhattan in the water.
An NYPD spokesman has suggested “the tides had something to do with it” and noted the investigation was ongoing.
A medical examiner for the city will be determining the cause of death for both boys.
Surveillance footage showed the two walking past a large group of people around 6PM on May 12th. Alfa was reported missing early Sunday morning, May 14th, and Garrett on Monday afternoon, May 15th.
The Harlem River was searched for days before Garrett's body was discovered.
“He was not the adventurous type — he would not have gone on an adventure like this,” Ibrahim Diallo, Alfa’s older brother said. “He never did anything like this. He never went missing before.”
“I cannot explain her pain,” Diallo said about his mother. “All I can see is that she’s going through 100 times more than I am – more pain, more loss – and I can tell you I am feeling all the pain and loss that I can stand.”
Alfa was described as a sweet kid who kissed his mum goodbye every time he left, and helped her with the laundry and other things to show he cared for and appreciated her.
“He would say, ‘I have no money to give, so anything I can do to show how thankful I am for my mother for all that she does for me … I will do."
Alfa was in sixth grade at the time of his disappearance. He had told his family he wanted to become the “best engineer there is to help make people’s lives better,” his brother said.
“Now he will never fulfill that potential. We will never see his ambitions realised.”
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