Spanish authorities are searching for James Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student who vanished early Tuesday during a night out at Shoko nightclub in Barcelona. Gracey was visiting friends studying abroad when he disappeared around 3 a.m., leaving behind his phone and wallet. His family says he was separated from friends at the end of the night.

Police have deployed helicopters and underwater units in the Vila Olímpica neighborhood where Gracey went missing. Authorities are reviewing security camera footage to retrace his movements in the area known for its nightlife. Gracey's father has traveled to Spain to assist investigators, while his family urges anyone with photos or videos from the area to check for images of him.

The Theta Chi fraternity member was scheduled to return to the United States on Saturday. His disappearance echoes other high-profile cases of American college students vanishing abroad, including Sudiksha Konanki in the Dominican Republic last year and Kenny DeLand Jr., who disappeared in France in 2022 before turning up in Spain.