Apparent drowning victim identified as missing Fort Worth student

Jerry Harris told his family he was walking to his cousin’s home on the morning of April 17.

In a pouring rain, the Polytechnic High School sophomore took off alone.

He never made it there.

Police officials now say that a body discovered April 27 inside the Sycamore Creek at the Sycamore Creek Golf Course has been positively identified as the missing 16-year-old teen.

Homicide Sgt. Joe Loughman said the body had been found floating in the water by an employee of the Sycamore Creek Golf Course.

“”There’s no reason to believe it’s anything but an accidental drowning at this point,” Loughman said.

Initially, Harris — a member of the school’s ROTC program — was listed as a runaway, but after authorities checked with school officials, the classification was changed to missing person.

A surveillance camera showed him near Dillow Elementary, 4000 Ave. N, running alone in the rain on the morning of April 17.

His grandmother, Joyce Harris, had previously told the Star-Telegram that her grandson was a bright kid with good grades.

“He planned to join the service after he graduated,” Joyce Harris said.

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 6:47 PM with the headline "Apparent drowning victim identified as missing Fort Worth student."