'We need to protect our babies:' Lowell locals heartbroken over missing 4-year-old (2025)

Silvery star-shaped balloons danced along the edge of the Merrimack River on Wednesday afternoon, lifted by a breeze as boats full of Lowell police and firefighters scoured the water below for a missing toddler.

“I just hope that they can find this little baby boy ... it’s just devastating,” said Silvette Koziol, 41, a 23-year Lowell resident.

She stood near a memorial set up on the river walk behind the Tsongas Center for UMass Lowell, where 4-year-old Azriel Lopez is believed to have slipped into the river four days earlier.

Beneath the floating star balloons, a small yellow toy truck — with “Azriel” etched on in red marker — rested gently among wilted dandelions. Around it, tiny cars, bright candles and superhero figures formed a collection of tributes.

Azriel was last seen around 5:45 p.m. on April 19, when a 911 caller reported the child was in the water by the Western Canal near 300 Arcand Dr., according to Lowell Police. Authorities believe the little boy was quickly pulled into the river by the current.

Lowell residents have been heartbroken by the news, and several community members have taken it upon themselves to help law enforcement in their search efforts over the past days.

Koziol searched in bushes along the riverbank earlier in the week with her family, she said, and had returned Wednesday to keep looking.

She and dozens of other locals watched from the walk at around 2 p.m., as at least eight law enforcement officials in two boats, including a diver, combed the water behind the Tsongas Center for hours — a team part of the “increased,” massive search across the river announced by Lowell Police that morning.

“Everybody around has been crying, devastated for this little boy,” Koziol said.

“I can’t imagine how these poor parents ... It’s just, my heart goes for them. It’s terrible,” she said.

Koziol called the Merrimack River unsafe, pointing out that it’s part of a larger issue that families with children face in Lowell.

“It’s not the first little boy or girl that has been lost in this river,” she said, referencing the death of 7-year-old Anna Mburu, whose body was pulled from the Merrimack River in July 2023, one day after she went missing.

Koziol also mentioned 3-year-old Harry Kkonde, who went missing in June 2022 and was found dead in a pond at Rollie’s Farm, about 5 miles west of Geana Street. In the same month, a mother, Boua DeChhat, died trying to save her 6-year-old child, who was swept into the Merrimack River.

As a mother of six, Koziol believes that while Lowell has plenty of public spaces, many aren’t designed with children and families in mind.

“There’s nowhere to feel safe around here, unless you’re in the local programs,” Koziol said.

“The city should have more [activites] to involve children that are safer, instead of just us bringing them out here. Anything can happen,” Koziol said.

She also feels that areas like the Merrimack River could be updated for public safety.

“I don’t think they should let anyone fish in the Merrimack at this point ... in these areas, it’s not safe for children. We need to protect our babies,” she said.