ROCKLEDGE, Fla. — A 4-year-old boy has been found dead in a pond at Mission Bay Apartments in Rockledge, according to the Brevard County Sheriff's Office on Friday morning.

The boy's mother called 911 at about 8:30 a.m., Friday, saying her child somehow unlocked the door of their home and was missing. Dispatch told deputies that the child was autistic.

Aviation units, K-9 teams, and deputies swarmed the area, and deputies went door-to-door asking neighbors if they had seen him. Neighbors also joined the search.

At about 9:20 a.m., one of the BCSO's aviation units reported that it spotted what could be the child in the pond. A deputy waded into the pond to get the boy, but the child was already dead, officials said.

One neighbor who helped with the search said she did not know the boy but that the community is tight-knit and residents are devastated for the loss the family experienced.

An autopsy will be conducted on the child's body to determine the cause of death.

The BCSO is continuing its investigation.

Authorities urged parents to make sure their children know how to float in the water, especially because summer is just around the corner.