LAFAYETTE NJ – Authorities have confirmed the identity of a young boy who drowned Sunday while swimming in a pond in Sussex County, New Jersey.

Samuel Vaughan, 4, of Bushkill, in Pike County, was visiting the Lafayette Town Pond, with family, when he was reported missing at about 3:30 Sunday afternoon.  His body was recovered by medical personnel who administered CPR.  He was taken to Newton Medical Center were additional efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. 

Lafayette Township officials have closed the pond a week early because of the tragedy.  The pond normally would have stayed open through the Labor Day weekend.