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University Student Goes Missing in Barcelona After Night Out

3/19/2026

27 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student, went missing in Barcelona after a night out at Shôko nightclub on March 17.
He was last seen around 3 a.m., with no sign of him returning to his Airbnb.
The Catalan police, Mossos d’Esquadra, are investigating the case.
Spanish police recovered his phone during the arrest of another person.
Details remain unclear due to privacy laws.

History

Historical Context

The 2006 disappearance of American tourists in Barcelona raised safety concerns, coinciding with a 20% increase in crimes against Americans abroad reported by the U.S. State Department. This issue resurfaced with the 2017 terrorist attack on La Rambla, which killed 13 and injured over 130, prompting scrutiny of local law enforcement and tourist safety measures in popular nightlife areas.

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Story summary

James "Jimmy" Gracey, a 20-year-old University of Alabama student, went missing in Barcelona after a night out at Shôko nightclub on March 17.
He was last seen around 3 a.m., with no sign of him returning to his Airbnb.
The Catalan police, Mossos d’Esquadra, are investigating the case.
Spanish police recovered his phone during the arrest of another person.
Details remain unclear due to privacy laws.

1 / 2