ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The reward for information on a missing 20-year-old has now increased to $15,000 after donations by two actors.

East Point police said Derek Samuel’s friends last saw him on April 29 in the Camp Creek Marketplace area. Police said surveillance cameras captured Derek leaving Target, then walking toward the streets around the shopping center at North Commerce Drive and Redwine Road.

“It’s rough. I’m not gonna even lie. We have our days, we have good days, we have bad days, but mainly it’s overwhelming,” said Carmalita Howard, aunt of Derek Samuel.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Family continues search for missing East Point man

Since he disappeared, his family has spent every day searching for him and passing out missing-person flyers.

“It’s very hurtful, and we’re tired, like we’re literally going out there after work, before work, after work and before work, and we’re looking, we’re not gonna stop. And if this has become our everyday life, then so be it. We’re not stopping until we find him,” Howard said.

Howard said it was concerning that she had not heard from Samuel and that he had not reached out to his twin sister.

“We don’t know what has happened. We don’t know if he’s okay. We don’t know if he’s safe. We don’t know if he’s being taken. We don’t know what’s going on, but we do know this is not the norm, and something is wrong. We can feel it in our spirit. Something is wrong,” Howard said.

Grammy-nominated singer and Fast and Furious actor Tyrese Gibson posted on his Instagram that he contributed $5,000 to the reward, to which the family has expressed gratitude.

Actor Gary Douhan also reportedly donated to the reward money.

“For them not to know us, for them not to have ever met us, but this to touch their hearts to do this, is 100% amazing. And it’s everything that we really needed in order to get him home, and we’re hoping that this will boost up the morale of the people to want to tell where they are. Where is he?” Howard said.

The family said conflicting posts on social media of his whereabouts have been overwhelming and confusing.

“You don’t know what to believe, what not to believe. It’s just, it’s a lot,” Howard said, “we just want to know where is he, who has something to do with him being missing, and where can we find him. That’s it.”

Anyone with information is asked to call East Point police Detective T. Armand at 404-765-1142, or your local police agency.

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