Gallup Police Seek Help Locating Missing Fort Wingate Student After Bus Ride
Gallup Police are asking the public's help to locate 14-year-old Keenan Peterson, who boarded a Fort Wingate High School bus around noon Nov. 7 but did not get off at his scheduled stop at the Speedway on E. Hwy 66. The incident has raised concerns about student safety on local school routes and prompted a communitywide appeal for information.
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Gallup law enforcement is asking residents to look out for 14-year-old Keenan Peterson after he failed to get off a Fort Wingate High School bus at his usual stop on Nov. 7. According to police, Peterson boarded the bus around noon that day but did not disembark at the Speedway at 3798 E. Hwy 66, prompting an active request for public assistance in locating him.
Peterson is described as approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 120 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, a gray sweater, dirty blue jeans, black Vans shoes and carrying a black Jansport backpack. Gallup Police and Metro Dispatch have provided tip lines for anyone with information: Metro Dispatch can be reached at (505) 722-2002 and Gallup Police at (505) 863-9365.
The disappearance of a student during routine transportation has immediate implications for families and local school operations. Parents and guardians in McKinley County depend on consistent bus routes and predictable drop-off points; an unexpected absence like this triggers heightened anxiety among families and calls for reviewing safety protocols. School administrators and law enforcement typically coordinate in these situations to confirm manifests, review bus routes, and check surveillance or camera footage when available.
For the broader community, missing juvenile reports often prompt organized searches and a surge in public vigilance. Residents who live along school routes or frequent the Speedway location at 3798 E. Hwy 66 are being asked to scan yards, vehicles and nearby public areas and to report any sightings or relevant information to the provided tip lines. Timely community responses can be critical in locating young people safely.
This incident also underscores the importance of clear communication between school districts, transportation providers and families. Parents may seek updates from Fort Wingate High School and McKinley County school officials about procedures for confirming student arrivals and departures, especially during afternoon runs or on routes that pass through commercial corridors such as East Highway 66.
Gallup Police continue to investigate and are relying on the community to come forward with any leads. Anyone who saw Keenan Peterson on or after Nov. 7, or who has information about his whereabouts, is urged to contact Metro Dispatch at (505) 722-2002 or Gallup Police at (505) 863-9365.
