The FBI has joined the search for a Jordanian athlete who disappeared hours after arriving in Houston to participate in the Genuine Cup, an international soccer tournament for athletes with intellectual disabilities, KPRC 2 News has learned.
The Rice University Police Department issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert late Sunday night for Rabe’e Ata Juma’a Alqaq, 25, who was last seen around midnight between Saturday and Sunday on the Rice University campus.
Authorities said Alqaq told his coach and teammates he was going for a walk but never returned to his room.
Rice University Police confirmed to KPRC 2’s Bryce Newberry that the agency requested the FBI’s assistance to get access to the social media accounts for Alqaq.
Surveillance video shared with KPRC 2 News shows Alqaq walking around the Rice University campus. He appears to be looking down on a phone while walking one direction, before turning around and walking the other way.
It’s unclear which direction he went from there, police said.
The Jordanian team of about 20-25 athletes is staying at Rice University’s Martel College, and Alqaq was reported missing after he did not return overnight and missed breakfast Sunday morning.
Alqaq has cerebral palsy and only speaks Arabic, Lt. Frank Fernandez said.
“He has mobility so he is able to walk. I don’t want people to think that he is in a wheelchair or that he walking around with a cane or anything. So he’s going to be very mobile. He’s also able to communicate,” Fernandez said.
Police said Alqaq was last seen wearing:
- A light blue T-shirt
- Black pants
“We don’t believe that he has a data plan here. So he was using WiFi and we’re not able to connect. We’re trying to possibly ping his phone so we can track him that way,” Fernandez said.
The Genuine Cup is an international soccer tournament for athletes with intellectual disabilities and is being hosted at Rice University.
Organizers said athletes are free to enter and exit the dorms while staying at Rice, and there was no lapse in security procedure.
“I know from the coaches that he has cerebral palsy, however, quite mobile in terms of walking, perhaps just on the right side with his arm, but I do know that from the coach that he does like to explore when he’s in a new city,” Genuine Cup volunteer Kathleen Sledge said.
Alqaq has been known to explore cities in the past without issue, according to the team’s coach.
“Our first hope is that he’s safe and the second hope that he is back as soon as possible with us,” Genuine Cup founder Ignacio Torras said.
Fernandez noted that tournament organizers are “stepping it up” to make sure everyone on each team is accounted for, using their rosters, daily schedules, and room checks.
Anyone who sees Alqaq or has information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Rice University Police Department at 713-348-6000 immediately.
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