Community concern is mounting in Rockdale County as two men, each facing personal struggles with mental health issues, have been reported missing. According to FOX 5 Atlanta, 19-year-old Bilal Muhammad vanished on Friday from his job after a reported mental health crisis, while 35-year-old Shaquel Rumeal Liburd, who suffers from a traumatic brain injury and potential psychosis, has been missing since the evening of Saturday.
Family and authorities are in a heightened state of worry about Muhammad, who was last seen running eastbound on Alexander Lake Road. "He matters, and he deserves to be cared after, and he deserves everyone's full attention," Antwar Walker, a concerned individual, told FOX 5 Atlanta. In a distressing update, his family has disclosed that although the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office initially reported Muhammad had been found, he refused medical assistance during transport and is still missing, now possibly somewhere within Atlanta's expanse.
In parallel, as relayed by Atlanta News First, the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office is appealing to the public for help in locating Liburd, described as around 5′10″ tall, weighing 165 pounds, with identifiable features such as a lion head tattoo and various scars.
The unanswered nature of the disappearances has the surrounding community poised, ready to help, while left in uncertainty, and rocked by the severity of the situation. Liburd's distinctive appearance, with a dent on the left side of his head from surgery, and scratches on his face, the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office is urging anyone with information to come forward. Notably, officials have not indicated any connection between the two cases, but the coincidental timing and proximity of these two incidents have stirred unease within the community.
The families of both men emphasize the critical need for intervention and care. For Muhammad, if seen, individuals are implored to contact his parents at 678-979-9950 and asked not to approach him aggressively due to his vulnerable state. Regarding Liburd, sightings or information should prompt immediate contact with the Rockdale County Sheriff's Office at (943) 216-5168 or via 911. In the interstices of law enforcement efforts and the collective community watch, hope lingers for safe returns.
