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COLUMBIA, MO. -- UPDATE: Wednesday, November 16 at 5:13 p.m.:

Columbia police are continuing their investigation into the death of a Hickman High School student.

A worker at Boone Quarries on Creasy Springs Road found the body of James Hickem, 17, on Tuesday after the teenager ran away from police last Friday afternoon.

Police confronted Hickem at Columbia’s Cosmo Park while responding to report of several teenagers drinking and smoking.

Hickem told police that some alcohol found near Cosmo Park’s Skateboard Park belonged to him.  Friends of the Hickman High School Junior gathered at the skateboard park to remember the teenager, including his girlfriend Libby Bopp.

Bopp said, “Everybody’s been really supportive.  They’re all here for me.  It hit everybody really hard because a lot of people cared about him.  He had a lot of friends.  Everybody has been really supportive.”

On Monday, Hickem’s father filed a missing person’s report to the Boone County Sheriff’s Department.  Family and friends thought Hickem was hiding from police.  A park ranger gave Hickem a trespassing warning for the skateboard park earlier this year.  Friends said Hickem ran from police because he wasn’t supposed to be there.  Skateboarders said Hickem was a familiar face at the skateboard park.

Bopp said, “It’s just really hard to believe that he’s gone.  He was such a good person and he just cared about everybody.”

Authorities are waiting on the results of Hickem’s autopsy to help them with their death investigation.

A candlelight vigil for James Hickem will take place tonight at Cosmo Park’s Skateboard Park at 8 p.m.

Original Story:

Columbia Police are investigating the death of a 17-year old boy.

Columbia Police and other emergency personnel were called to Boone Quarries on Creasy Springs Road Tuesday afternoon for a death investigation.

A worker found a body in the quarry.

Police identified the victim as 17-year old James Hickem.

Authorities said Hickem ran from Columbia Police when they tried to question him at the Cosmo Park last Friday night.

He was believed to be drinking and smoking at the park with other teens.

Police searched for Hickem after he ran, but were unable to find him.

Columbia Police said a medical examiner is doing an autopsy to see what caused his death.