Gallup Police Seek Public Help Finding Missing Young Man

Gallup Police put out an appeal for information after 23 year old Makaya Sandoval was reported missing following his last known sighting on Nov. 29, 2025. According to the report, Sandoval was seen by his grandmother at an unknown time in the area of Pizza Hut North and Burger King North. He is Native American, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs roughly 160 pounds, and has brown eyes and black hair.

Investigators described his clothing at the time as either a navy blue or maroon jacket, black pants, and white shoes. Police emphasized that any detail could help narrow a search that is now entering its third day. The department asked anyone with information to contact Metro Dispatch at (505) 722 2002 or the Gallup Police Department at (505) 863 9365.

The missing person report has immediate implications for the local neighborhood. The area around those fast food outlets is a busy corridor for shoppers and commuters, making eyewitness accounts from employees and passing motorists potentially valuable. For families in McKinley County, timely community response can shorten search times and reduce strain on local emergency resources.

From a municipal perspective, missing person investigations draw on patrol time, dispatch capacity, and coordination with county services. Quick public cooperation can help reallocate those resources back to routine public safety work sooner. For local businesses near the reported sighting, the situation underscores the importance of staff awareness and review of any surveillance footage that could show Sandoval’s movements on Nov. 29.

Police did not release additional investigative details. Residents who saw Sandoval or who have information related to his whereabouts are urged to call Metro Dispatch at (505) 722 2002 or the Gallup Police Department at (505) 863 9365. Providing a timely tip can make a meaningful difference for his family and for the broader community as the search continues.