Son of rapper Lil Jon, found dead in a pond after being reported missing. Grammy-winning artist: 'We're devastated'
Lil Jon with his son Nathan Smith in New York on October 24, 2018. Credit line: AP / AP / Profimedia
The 27-year-old, known as DJ Young Slade, was found in a pond in Milton, Georgia on Friday after being reported missing on February 4. The artist Lil Jon declared himself “devastated”, while the local police stated that, at the moment, there are no suspicions of murder, according to the BBC.
Nathan Smith, the son of rapper Lil Jon and an acclaimed music producer, went missing Tuesday morning after leaving home without his cell phone. Authorities described the circumstances of his departure as “unusual”, prompting an extensive search operation.
Emergency crews' efforts ended in tragedy Friday when Milton police discovered a lifeless body, believed to be Smith's, in a pond near his home. The Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office is currently conducting the necessary procedures to officially confirm the identity and determine the cause of death.
“Based on the investigation to date, there are no indications to suggest a murder,” local police said, adding that investigations would continue to establish the exact circumstances of the death.
Lil Jon, the Grammy Award winning artist known for global hits such as Yeah! and Turn Down For What, told BBC News that both he and Nathan's mother Nicole Smith are “devastated” by the loss
“Nathan was the best man you could ever meet. He was extremely caring, attentive, polite, passionate and warm. We loved Nathan with all our hearts and we are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in the last moments we spent together it was comforting to think that we expressed that feeling to him,” the artist said.
The authorities were alerted on Tuesday morning after the 27-year-old left the home under “unusual circumstances”. An initial wanted poster released by police said Smith had left on foot and that he “may be disoriented and in need of assistance,” raising concerns for his safety among family and friends.
The pond where the body was discovered Friday morning is in Milton, a town about 30 miles north of Atlanta, the city where his father, Lil Jon, built his music career
