Gallup Police Search for Teen Missing From Miyamura High School Campus

When his father arrived at Miyamura High School on March 23 to pick him up, Damion Palacios was not there. That discovery, made on school grounds at the Boardman Drive campus, prompted Gallup Police to issue a missing-juvenile alert and launch a community-wide search. As of this week, Gallup Police have confirmed that Palacios has been located.

Officials described the 16-year-old as roughly 5 feet 6 inches tall and about 115 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a red hoodie. Missing-person bulletins were published starting March 24 and remained active through at least March 26, with investigators not publicly releasing details on the suspected circumstances of his disappearance.

Throughout the search, Gallup Police asked the public to report any sightings, surveillance footage, or other relevant information through Metro Dispatch or the department directly. Tips from the public are considered critical in the earliest hours and days of any missing-juvenile case. In McKinley County, where wide geographic terrain and limited transportation infrastructure can quickly expand the radius of a search, that window matters more than in denser urban jurisdictions.

Local media and community organizations amplified the alert while investigators worked incoming tips. Officials urged family members and friends to contact local shelters, hospitals, and acquaintances in parallel with the formal law enforcement effort, a standard approach in rural missing-juvenile cases where community networks often surface leads faster than official channels.

The disappearance also raised familiar questions about student-departure protocols on the Miyamura campus. When a minor is reported missing from school grounds, law enforcement and campus staff typically review access logs, security camera coverage, and transportation records to pinpoint the last confirmed moment a student was on campus. Gallup Police did not publicly detail what campus records or footage factored into the Palacios investigation.

Families in McKinley County who need to report a missing minor can reach McKinley County Metro Dispatch around the clock at (505) 722-2002, or contact the Gallup Police Department directly at (505) 722-2231. For emergencies, dial 911. The New Mexico Department of Public Safety maintains an online missing persons clearinghouse where active alerts are posted and updated. Families seeking crisis support can also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, which operates 24 hours a day.