Community Members Plead For Minnesota Boy’s Safe Return

CRYSTAL, Minn. (AP) - Members of the Twin Cities Liberian community are pleading for the safe return of a missing 10-year-old boy.

A prayer service was held Saturday for Barway Collins of Crystal. The boy disappeared shortly after school March 18th.

Police have said the boy's father, 33-year-old Pierre Collins, remains the primary suspect. Pierre Collins has told reporters he had nothing to do with his son's disappearance.

A Liberian community leader told the crowd of about 50 outside the Collins' apartment complex to "stand by the family in this moment of grief."

Police are focusing their search for the missing boy along the Mississippi River. Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering has said there is "strong evidence" that Pierre Collins was in that area just after Barway went missing.