THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE ORIGINAL RELEASE FROM SUNDAY NIGHT

LA GRANGE -- The search for 19-year-old Shawn Christopher “Chris” Arndt-Spikes continues today in La Grange.

Chris, who is autistic and non-verbal, was reported missing Sunday night around 8:30 to Lenoir County authorities. There has been an extensive search for him since then involving personnel from the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office, Lenoir County Emergency Services, the La Grange Volunteer Fire Department and other agencies.

A helicopter owned by a private individual has also been used in the search to cover wide areas that can be searched.

Chris takes seizure medicine twice a day and it’s now been more than 18 hours since he last had it. If you see him, please don’t approach him but immediately call 911 and give the operator his location.

“This is important to me and our whole department to find Chris,” Lenoir County Sheriff Jackie Rogers said. “We appreciate all the help from the different agencies and the northern Lenoir County community in this search.”

Rogers added that if someone has an outbuilding or a carport, to please check those spaces; with record heat predicted today, it’s likely Chris might be headed there to cool off.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in finding this young man as soon as possible.

Shawn Christopher Arndt-Spikes recently turned 19 on July 1. He is 5-foot, 7-inches tall and weighs around 125 pounds. He went missing around 8:30 p.m. today from the 200 block of North Forbes Street in La Grange. He was wearing a green short-sleeved T-shirt with a surfing logo on the front of the shirt and blue sweatpants.

He is autistic and non-verbal; he also takes seizure medication daily. If he doesn’t take his medicine, he will have seizures.

He answers to “Chris.” If you have seen him, PLEASE call 911. PLEASE share this information on your social media feeds. We really need to find Chris.