Groups are searching for a University of Louisville student who was last seen Saturday, June 19 at the Algonquin Park pool in Louisville.
Quintez Brown, 20, is a U of L Woodford R. Porter scholar ━ a designation for Black students who achieve academic excellence and show a commitment to strengthening and serving their communities. He was a central figure during the protests and movement in support of Black lives last year. A former intern with the Courier Journal, he wrote op-eds about race, youth and social justice. His reporting on these topics and issues amplified the voices and firsthand experiences of residents in individual Louisville communities as the city reckoned with the killing of Breonna Taylor and racial inequity, more broadly.
Brown’s family says it’s unlike him to not respond to texts and calls.
“This has never happened. He’s family-oriented. He communicates well with his family about his whereabouts. This is just not normal,” said Brown’s grandmother, Tanya Hyde.
Hyde added the circumstances of his disappearance raise red flags because of his background in writing about, and organizing for, social justice.
“I know how he feels about bringing people together and uniting people as one. And I’ve always had concerns about his mission because he’s a young, Black man,” Hyde said. “I’m proud of what he does, because he does it for the people — for all people. But I’m still a mother, and I’m worried about him.”
Chanelle Helm, co-organizer of Black Lives Matter’s Louisville chapter, met Brown in 2017. She said he's a changemaker in the community and added that his work and advocacy has effected progress.
“He was a phenomenal leader, you know, always thinking about others, how everybody can be at the table,” Helm said. “He is always very attentive and chipper and just informative.”
Family, friends and other residents have taken to social media in an effort to guide Brown’s safe return home. The posted flyers urge anyone who has seen Brown or may have pertinent information about his whereabouts to call listed numbers.
The Louisville Metro Police Department is also circulating a flyer with information that differs from what Brown’s family members shared. Inconsistencies include descriptions of his car, Brown’s weight and height.
Brown is a Black man, 5’10” and 180 lbs with dark brown eyes and black hair. The flyers say he recently changed his appearance and now has a shaved head and face. His family says he drives a navy blue, 2006 Nissan Sentra.
Family and friends are searching for Quintez Brown, 20. The U of L student journalist and activist was last seen Saturday, June 19 on Algonquin Pkwy. https://t.co/ENxQqvixTa
— 89.3 WFPL News (@WFPLNews) June 22, 2021
During a search party that met at Waterfront Park this morning, Brown’s brother, Jacob Daugherty, said he hopes to find him today.
“I feel like he’s a genius, honestly. That’s why, deep down, I feel like he’s safe,” Daugherty said. “If we found the car, nine times out of 10 we’d find him. He might be sleeping in his car.”
Yesterday evening, people met at DuPont Manual High School, Brown’s alma mater, and broke off in groups to look for him in different areas of the city.
Community members are planning another search party for Brown at Meyzeek Middle School, Wednesday afternoon at 4:45.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated to reflect, more specifically, where Brown was last seen.