American rapper Lil Jon released a statement on Friday announcing the death of his son Nathan Smith after he went missing.
The record producer confirmed this in a joint statement with Smith’s mother after police found a body in a pond north of Atlanta, Georgia.
Thousands of people took to social media to express their condolences to the couple for the loss of a young son.
Hundreds of others admired the parents for reminding themselves that they had told him that “he was loved and appreciated during their last time together.”
The statement read: “I am extremely heartbroken by the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I’m devastated. “Nathan was the kindest person you would ever meet. He was deeply caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate and warm-hearted – he loved his family and the friends in his life deeply. He was an incredibly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and a graduate of NYU.”
Lil Jon continued, “We loved Nathan with all our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our final time together we are comforted in knowing that we expressed that same feeling to him.”
A large number of people agreed that we all “don’t forget to tell the people we love how we feel about them.”
Although Nathan Smith’s exact cause of death has not been released, an earlier statement from police led some people to debate whether he suffered from mental health issues.
Police had said in a missing person poster circulating on social media that the 27-year-old “ran out of his house and has been missing ever since. He “left on foot and has no phone,” police said. “He may be disoriented and needs help. Family and friends are concerned for his safety.”
The medical examiner did not immediately respond to questions about the case on Friday.
“Based on the investigation so far, there are no indications of foul play,” police said. “However, the Milton Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division will continue to treat this as an open and active investigation.”
