Howard University sophomore James Duncan III has been declared missing as of March 25, 2009. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is being asked to contact either the Howard University Police Department (HUPD) or Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Police poster

James Duncan III

Chief Leroy K. James of the HUPD said Duncan was reported missing by a close relative, who contacted the university police with concern over not having heard from Duncan for a few days.

The release describes Duncan as a 24-year-old male of African descent, 5’ 11” in height, 165 pounds, with a black, low-afro haircut, brown eyes and dimples.

Missing Persons Poster

Poster of Duncan and vehicle type

Duncan’s family is assisting the police with successfully locating the student. James said the case is being investigated by the MPD as a Critical Missing Persons case, and that the HUPD is assisting with the case.

A person can be determined a “Critical Missing Person” based on eight criteria, according to the MPD Web site.

Five of the eight criteria are (1) it is believed that the missing person is in a life-threatening situation; (2) it is believed that the missing person is in the company of someone who could endanger the missing person’s welfare; (3) based on available information, it is believed that there is a real or suspected danger of foul play; (4) The absence is inconsistent with the missing person’s established pattern of behavior and the deviation cannot be readily explained; and (5) other circumstances involved in the disappearance that would cause the Watch Commander to conclude that the person should be considered “at-risk.”

The reason for Duncan’s classification as a Critical Missing Person was not disclosed.

Jessica Lewis writes for The Hilltop, the Howard University student newspaper, which originally published this article.