Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama's Missing Friend Found in Chicago

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Victor Wembanyama, the star player for the San Antonio Spurs, had posted multiple calls for assistance on Instagram to help locate his missing friend Elijah Hoard, a 23-year-old who was last seen at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. After Wembanyama's social media posts helped raise awareness, Hoard was found safe and returned home to his family.

Why it matters

Wembanyama's public plea for help in locating his friend highlights the power of social media to assist in missing persons cases, especially when a high-profile individual like an NBA star uses their platform to raise awareness. It also demonstrates the close personal relationships professional athletes can have with those outside of their sport.

The details

Hoard was reported missing after he was last seen at the Chicago airport. Wembanyama shared updates on his Instagram story, including surveillance footage showing Hoard in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, which helped generate more media and social media coverage of the case. Wembanyama said he and Hoard have been close friends for a long time, with their families also being connected.

• Hoard was last seen at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.
• Wembanyama posted multiple calls for help locating Hoard on his Instagram account.
• Hoard was found safe about an hour before Wembanyama spoke to the media after the Spurs' game against the Philadelphia 76ers.

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