The family of a University of Alabama student who went missing in Spain is speaking out amid his concerning disappearance.

“Jimmy is a kind, responsible, and devoted son and brother,” said the family of Jimmy Gracey, 20, in a Wednesday, March 18, statement obtained by local affiliate WVUA. “It is completely out of character for him not to check in with family and friends.”

Gracey’s family said their loved one was visiting friends abroad during spring break, and that he was last seen in the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 17, at the Shôko, a nightclub in Barcelona.

“We are working closely with local authorities and are incredibly grateful for the support we have received,” the statement continued. “We ask that you keep Jimmy in your thoughts as we continue to do everything we can to bring him home safely.”

At the time he was reported missing, his family said Gracey was wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants and a gold chain with a rhinestone cross, adding that he is about 6’1” and 175 lbs.

Speaking with NBC News, fellow student Cavin McLay said he learned that Gracey was missing from a friend — and said he was told that Gracey got separated from the group that went out “and that was the last time they saw him.”

“It’s one of those things you think isn’t going to happen to your family but right now we just really want to get the word out, get his picture out there and just beg anybody that might have seen him the other night or ran into him and are afraid because they were doing something they shouldn’t have, just please come forward,” added Gracey’s aunt, Beth Marren O’Reilly.

Jimmy Gracey

Jimmy Gracey.Family Handout

NBC affiliate WMAQ reported that Gracey, originally from the Chicago suburb of Elmhurst, is a junior at the University of Alabama and a graduate of Chicago’s Saint Ignatius College Prep.

Jimmy’s mother, Therese Marren Gracey, previously shared a post on the Barcelona Expat Families Facebook group on Tuesday confirming her son had been reported missing.

In her post, she claimed that local police were in possession of his phone, but when reached by PEOPLE, a spokesperson said they could not confirm they had his phone, but that the investigation remained open and ongoing.

“In this particular case, we received a phone call at 1 am this morning and then an in-person report sometime this morning about the disappearance of this individual,” the spokesperson said. “We cannot say anything else at this point.”

Police went on to add that “there are a lot of cameras” in the area where he disappeared, so authorities are hopeful they’ll find something there.

A University of Alabama spokesperson previously told PEOPLE in a statement that Gracey was “on a personal trip” and that “staff are in touch with the family and those associated with them to offer support and assistance in any way possible.”

Shoko restaurant and lounge club

A photo taken outside Shôko Barcelona.Joel Papalini / Alamy Stock Photo

David Gracey, Jimmy’s uncle and a senior CNN producer in Washington, D.C., told the outlet that his nephew was scheduled to return to the U.S., on Saturday, March 21.  He added that Jimmy is a hockey player who helps his parents in caring for his younger siblings

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“We are asking anyone who may have seen Jimmy or has any information—no matter how small—to please contact 224-505-3886,” Jimmy’s family said in their latest statement.

Additional reporting by Nina Biddle.