RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh police say skeletal remains were found in a wooded area, north of Wakefield near old Highway 98.

Authorities say the skeletal remains were found by some people walking in the woods on Wednesday. Authorities arrived at the scene Thursday morning.

"At this particular time, we are trying to determine who the remains belong to and what the nature of the injury or the cause of the remains coming to be here," Lt. John Lynch, of the Raleigh Police Department.

Raleigh police say a truck located near the remains is owned by 37-year-old

Wayne Littleton Gibbs

, who owns a nail salon in Raleigh. Gibbs had been reported missing on June 2, and authorities and family members have been looking for him.

Police say the remains are those of an adult, but they will not say whether the skeletal remains found are those of Gibbs. They also said a handgun was found at the scene.

"We are in contact with the Gibbs family and they have been made aware of the situation and what we have," Lynch said.

"We are worried that something has happened to him, but we also just hope that he has taken off," said Ben Gibbs.

"He was just a wonderful, wonderful person. I don't see him taking his own life. I think there is definitely some foul play and things to be foreseen," said Angie Copeland, Gibbs' friend.

The remains will be taken to the medical examiner's office. The area where the remains were found is close to the location of the proposed Highway 98 Bypass.