Semaj Booker at Kobayashi Park in University Place on Monday, June 6, 2016. Booker says he often comes to the park with friends. “I like the sound of the water,” he says.    (Lindsey Wasson / The Seattle Times)

Turning points

Semaj Booker made national headlines at age 9 for running away. He hasn’t stopped running since.

Semaj Booker stole a car, snuck on two flights and became known as "the most persistent, most creative and most publicized" 9-year-old runaway "in the history of the Pacific Northwest." That was 10 years ago. Today he’s trying to escape from the environment in which he grew up. This is his story.

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