Elderly missing person alert

Released this afternoon by GCPD

(Lawrenceville, Ga., Nov. 15, 2026) – The Gwinnett County Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating 78-year-old Charles Smith Jr.

On November 15, Smith was reported missing from an apartment located on Lawrenceville Highway in Lawrenceville. Friends last saw him around 11 p.m. on November 14 and discovered he was missing around 4 a.m. the following morning.

Smith is described as a Black male, approximately 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds. He has gray hair and was last seen wearing dark-colored pants, black shoes, and multiple coats.

Smith resides in downtown Atlanta and does not have a vehicle, money, or a cellphone. His family reports that he suffers from memory loss, possibly due to Alzheimer's disease or dementia.

At the time of his disappearance, Smith was staying with a friend and was unfamiliar with the area.

If anyone has any information to share in this case, please contact GCPD detectives at 770.513.5300.