On Friday, American rapper Lil Jon issued a poignant statement announcing the untimely passing of his son, Nathan Smith, following his disappearance. The record producer shared this news in a joint statement with Smith's mother, confirming the discovery of a body in a pond north of Atlanta, Georgia, by the police. The news was met with an outpouring of sympathy from thousands of individuals who took to social media to express their condolences to the couple for their loss of a young son. Hundreds more praised the parents for the sweet reminder they had shared with their son that he was "loved and appreciated" in their last moments together.
The statement read, "We are devastated by the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother [Nicole Smith] and I are in immense pain. Nathan was a gentle soul, imbued with kindness, thoughtfulness, politeness, passion, and warmth. He cherished his family and friends with all his heart, and he was an exceptionally talented young man—a music producer, artist, engineer, and a graduate of NYU."
Lil Jon continued, "We loved Nathan with all our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was cherished and appreciated, and in our last moments together, we are comforted knowing that we expressed how much we cared for him."
Many people agreed that this serves as a reminder for all of us to "remember to tell the people we love how we feel about them." While the exact cause of Nathan Smith's death has not been announced, an earlier statement by the police sparked discussions about whether he might have struggled with mental health issues.
The police had posted on social media that the 27-year-old "ran out of his house and has been missing since. He 'left on foot and does not possess a phone,' they said. 'He may be disoriented and in need of assistance. Family and friends are concerned for his safety.' The medical examiner did not immediately respond to inquiries about the case on Friday."
"Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play," said the police. "However, the Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will continue to treat this as an open and active investigation."
