Child who disappeared during July 4 fireworks show found dead on Virginia Beach

The body of an 8-year-old drowning victim was discovered on the Virginia Beach Oceanfront early Friday after the child disappeared Thursday evening amid July 4 festivities.

The Virginia Beach Police Department received a report of a missing child who was last seen by Neptune's Park near the water's edge around 8 p.m., according to a press release.

At the time the child was reported missing, the beach was crowded with families ready to watch the city's annual Fourth of July fireworks show, according to the Virginian-Pilot.

Police searched for the missing child throughout the night until approximately 2 a.m. when a citizen discovered a body along the shore about eight blocks from where the child was last seen.

Despite rescue efforts by citizens and emergency responders, the child was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim's identity will not be released out of respect to the family, master police officer Allen Perry said Friday.