Jordanian soccer player missing after leaving Rice University campus: Police
Rabe'e Ata Juma'a Alqaq was participating in a tournament for disabled athletes.
A Jordanian athlete who traveled to Houston to participate in a soccer tournament featuring intellectually disabled competitors, has been missing since Sunday from his dorm at Rice University, police said.
Rabe'e Ata Juma'a Alqaq, 24, had just arrived at the campus Saturday around 9 p.m. for this year's Genuine Cup, which features disabled players from over 53 countries, according to Rice University Police Department.
Alqaq, who has cerebral palsy, told his dormmates around midnight Sunday that he wanted to take a walk, according to investigators.
He missed a breakfast and was not in his room later Sunday, police said.
"There were still some items in his room, so that's why it's kind of prompted us to believe that he's missing," Lt. Francisco Fernandez of the Rice University PD told ABC Houston affiliate KTRK.
"He does not know the area,[and] doesn't know the city," Fernandez added.
The police said Alqaq does not speak English.
Representatives from the Genuine Cup, didn't immediately respond for comment about the situation.
Alqaq was captured on campus surveillance cameras, police said.
In one of the pieces of footage released by the police, the athlete was seen near a campus entrance and appeared to be heading off campus, but he then turned around and headed in the opposite direction.
He was seen in one of the footage looking at his phone.
Anyone with information about Alqaq's whereabouts is urged to call the Rice University Police Department at 713-348-6000.
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