Lil Jon’s son, Nathan Smith, has been found dead after going missing in Milton, Georgia, earlier this week. He was 27.
Smith’s body was found in a pond on Friday (February 6) morning. Police have said there was no indication of foul play, per TMZ.
“I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith,” Lil Jon said in a statement. “His mother, Nicole Smith, and I are devastated. Nathan was the kindest human being you would ever meet. He was immensely caring, thoughtful, polite, passionate, and warmhearted — he loved his family and the friends in his life to the fullest.”
The statement went on to say: “He was an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU.
“We loved Nathan with all of our hearts and are incredibly proud of him. He was loved and appreciated, and in our last times together we’re comforted in knowing that we expressed that very sentiment to him.”
On Tuesday (February 3), Smith was reported missing after running out of his home on foot. A missing-person notice said he may have been “disoriented and in need of assistance.”
He “left on foot and does not possess a phone”, police said at the time, adding that “family and friends are concerned for his safety.”
Milton police immediately began searching for Smith, and after being unable to locate him, police and other agencies expanded the search to include a pond near Smith’s residence.
Shortly before midday Friday, Cherokee county fire department divers found a body in the pond.
“The individual is believed to be Nathan Smith, pending official confirmation by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office,” police said in a statement at the time.
“Based on the investigation to date, there is no indication of foul play,” police said. “However, the Milton Police Department Criminal Investigations Division will continue to treat this as an open and active investigation.”
Smith performed professionally as DJ Young Slade, and released his debut single ‘Move Thru Fire’ in 2020, shortly after graduating from college. “He was so happy to express his art n do it himself,” Lil Jon said in an Instagram post about the song yesterday. “I was so proud of him for doing it all on his own.”
