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(Left) Newly released CCTV image showing last sighting Lee Johnston in a supermarket on the Orritor Road, Cookstown (Right) Police visited an area in Ballykeel II estate on Tuesday (Circle) Police car at the scene on Tuesday morning.
Police are continuing to investigate the disappearance of 21-year-old Lee Johnston who has been missing since 7 October.
This afternoon, Tuesday 17 October, made a renewed appeal for information as to the whereabouts of the "high-risk missing person".
Earlier this morning police visited the Ballykeel area of Ballymena. Local residents woke up to discover a number of police officers around a block of flats at Orkney Drive, in the Ballykeel II estate. A police car was parked in the area for a number of hours.
A PSNI spokesperson confirmed that officers were in the area in connection to the ongoing missing person investigation.
Making a renewed appeal, Mid Ulster District Commander Superintendent Michael O’Loan said:
“Police are becoming increasingly concerned for Lee’s safety and we have now launched a criminal investigation into his disappearance.
“I can now confirm that we have a sighting of Lee in a supermarket on the Orritor Road in Cookstown between 16.52 and 16.59 on Saturday October 7th. CCTV shows him going through a checkout.
![Newly released CCTV image showing last sighting Lee Johnston in a supermarket on the Orritor Road in Cookstown](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7986bd_2bb83e94051b42e1800250d8242e21c8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_333,h_465,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/7986bd_2bb83e94051b42e1800250d8242e21c8~mv2.png)
Newly released CCTV image showing last sighting Lee Johnston in a supermarket on the Orritor Road in Cookstown
"Today we are issuing photographs of this last sighting in an effort to jog people’s memories. Lee was also believed to have been in the Mullagh Park area of Maghera earlier that day at around 4pm. He also has links to both the Ballymena and Coleraine areas.
“Lee was first reported missing to police on Friday evening, 13th October and it is out of character for him not to have been in contact with his family since he was last seen.
“He has short brown hair, blue eyes and around 5 foot 9 inches in height, and was last seen wearing a blue hooded-top and tracksuit bottoms.
“I am appealing directly to Lee to make contact with the police, family or friends so that we know you are safe and well.
“Officers continuing to investigate Lee’s disappearance have made two arrests, a woman aged 31, and a man aged 33. They both continue to help police with their enquiries at this time.
“I am appealing to anyone who was travelling through the Mullagh Park area in Maghera between 3pm and 4pm on Saturday, 7th October to think if they saw Lee or anything unusual. If you did, please report it to police immediately.
“I would also appeal to anyone with dash-cam, CCTV or mobile footage that could help our enquiries, to also make contact with police on 101, quoting reference number 1782 13/10/23.”
You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers.uk.org.
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