DUNNELLON, FL — Authorities have issued an Amber Alert for 17-year-old Caden Speight after a terrifying incident in which the teenager was shot and abducted. The Dunnellon Police Department confirmed that the suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Luis M. Palomar, a man with a prior criminal history, including a 2016 arrest in connection with a home invasion and three other unrelated felony charges.
The abduction occurred Thursday afternoon, September 25, 2025, when police say Caden was confronted while driving in the 12800 block of SW Highway 484 near Dunnellon. Shortly after, his mother received a chilling text message from him that read, “Mom, I need help. Four Hispanics in a white van — one driving. I’m shot.” The message ended abruptly, and moments later Caden’s cell phone was discovered smashed in half near the roadside.
Investigators believe Palomar, along with accomplices who have not yet been publicly named, forced Caden into a light-colored van before fleeing the area. Law enforcement agencies from Marion and Citrus counties have launched a massive search effort spanning several miles, with aviation units and K-9 search teams combing through wooded terrain, rivers, and ditches.
Authorities say Palomar is no stranger to the criminal justice system. Court records show that in 2016 he was arrested in connection with a violent home invasion and later faced three other felony charges in unrelated cases. While it is unclear whether he served prison time, investigators note his history as an “indicator of the danger he poses to the public.”
“This is an urgent and active situation,” said Dunnellon Police Chief [Name]. “We are doing everything in our power to bring Caden home safely. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous, and we are asking the public to stay alert and report any tips immediately.”
The Amber Alert has been circulated statewide, with Caden’s photo and details shared across social media, highway alert boards, and news outlets. Authorities describe him as 17 years old, last seen wearing a T-shirt and blue jeans, and possibly injured from the shooting.
Community members in Dunnellon have expressed deep concern and are rallying around the Speight family, sharing the missing teen’s flyer and offering prayers for his safe return. “He’s just a kid. No family should ever have to go through this,” one neighbor said.
The case has reignited discussion about crime prevention and repeat offenders. Critics argue that individuals with histories of violent crime, such as Palomar, should face stricter oversight. For Caden’s family, however, the only focus is on finding him alive.
Anyone who sees Caden Speight, the suspects, or the white van believed to be involved is urged not to approach but to call 911 immediately. Tips can also be directed to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at (352) 732-9111 or to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Missing Endangered Persons Information Clearinghouse at 1-888-FL-MISSING (1-888-356-4774).
As the search intensifies, authorities stress that time is critical. The community remains on edge, united in the hope that Caden Speight will be found and returned safely to his family
