Body found in area of search for Jimmy Gracey, University of Alabama student missing in Barcelona
Officers from Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police force in Barcelona, have set up a perimeter around a section of beach and say they’ve discovered a body in the ongoing search for missing University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey.
It has not yet been identified.
Early Thursday evening local time, a worker at Port Olimpic, adjacent to the beach outside the club where Gracey was last seen, ran out and waved down police officers, pointing in the direction he came from.
Officers put up crime scene tape, brought in a marked vehicle and cordoned off the scene.
“Mossos officers have located the lifeless body of a person in the water in the Somorrostro area,” the department posted on X. “Procedures are underway to identify the body.”
Divers were seen entering the water with a stretcher at around 7:05 p.m. local time and returned to the dock with a body bag 10 minutes later. It appeared to be full.
Police have set up a blue screen shielding the body from view as investigators remain on scene.
The 20-year-old was last seen by friends around 3 a.m. Tuesday at Shoko, which advertises itself as one of the top 10 clubs in the world and sits on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea.
Gracey and a group of classmates had traveled to Spain to visit friends studying abroad in Barcelona on spring break.
In a statement, the Gracey family did not address the latest development but expressed thanks for widespread, international support they’ve been offered this week.
“We are so grateful for the kindness and concern that has been shown for our family during this incredibly difficult time,” the family said. “We have made the decision to pause media interviews at this time to focus on being together and caring for one another. Thank you for respecting our privacy and holding our family in your thoughts and prayers. We will share updates if and when we’re able.”
Fox News’ Patrick McGovern and Garrett Tenney contributed to this report.
