The Chief of the Gastonia Police Department says he was "heartbroken" over the discovery of a body believed to be that of six-year-old Maddox Ritch, who went missing last week.Gastonia Police Chief Robert Helton fought back tears and a breaking voice at a news conference Thursday to announce officials believed the body searchers found was that of Maddox Ritch. “I’m heartbroken. Our community is heartbroken. Our searchers. Our investigators. This is not the end that we had hoped for,” said Police Chief Helton.The body was found partially submerged in Long Creek. The creek is near Rankin Lake Park, where Maddox went missing last week. The boy's father, Ian Ritch, says Maddox ran off from him as he and a friend walked at Rankin Lake Park last weekend.Ian Ritch said he couldn't catch up with his son because he has neuropathy in his feet due to diabetes.Gastonia Fire Chief Phil Welch said the body was found in a creek, slightly more than a mile east of the park, by a searcher who was walking down the middle of the creek as his partners stood on the bank. He said the area had been searched previously by drones, all-terrain vehicles and on foot.Community members also say they are devastated because of Thursday's update.“Right now I don’t have any words to say. I was so hoping they would find him alive. His poor mama. Praise God. My Lord and Savior. I know that little feller is in the Lord in heaven right now. There’s no doubt in my heart and mind," said Patsy Summit, who lives in Gastonia.“If it is him I feel for the family and I offer them my prayers. Hopefully they can find peace,” said Gastonia resident Caitlin Kraus.“It’s really hard. I’ve got two kids myself. I’ve got a seven-year-old and a two-year-old who go to that park all the time and I let the kids kind of run and let them get ahead of me so it’s something that really strikes close to home for me."FBI agent Jason Kaplan said the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information about Maddox's disappearance is urged to call police.