QUEENS — A New York law firm has offered a $5,000 reward Wednesday for the safe return of 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo, a teen with autism from Rego Park and has been missing since Friday afternoon.
Avonte Oquendo, of Rego Park, who can't speak, was seen on surveillance footage running away from the Riverview School at 1-50 51 Ave. in Long Island City just before 12:40 p.m. on Friday.
The award was offered by Mayerson and Associates, whose founder Gary Mayerson, is a member of the Autism Speaks board of directors, according to the company's website.
The law firm focuses on representing "individuals with autism (primarily in educational rights matters)," according to the website.
"Like all New Yorkers, we are extremely concerned that, despite a massive search by the police and the local community, Avonte Oquendo, who first was reported missing from his school on Friday, October 4, 2013, still has not been located," the company posted.
Avonte's older brother, Danny Oquendo, told DNAinfo that the teen "is autistic and he cannot verbally communicate at all.”