TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)\u2014 A missing Tampa 11-year-old was found early Wednesday morning thanks to the help of a WFLA photojournalist.<\/p>\n
An 11-year-old girl was reported missing on Tuesday after being last seen around 5:15 p.m., leaving westbound from the 4900 block of E Whiteway Drive.<\/p>\n
The Tampa Police Department was searching for the missing girl throughout the night when a WFLA photojournalist, Malik Parler, spotted her walking along the sidewalk.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just wanted to make sure she made it home safely,\u201d Parler said.<\/p>\n
With his quick thinking and fatherly instincts, Parler safely identified the girl and followed her in his vehicle until she returned home.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s kind of hard when you have kids. You see something like this. You are hoping that your kids come home safe,\u201d Parler said.<\/p>\n
According to officers, the girl has been reunited with her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to our media partners for assisting in locating the missing juvenile,\u201d TPD said.<\/p>\n
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