DRUG RUMORS ABOUND

Police pursue leads in slaying of boy, 13

By Jason Shepard

A police investigation into the murder of 13-year-old Adrian Gonzalez
is being slowed by the necessity to check out a profusion of rumors
among teens about the possible role of drugs.

"We're working against a lot of rumor mills at the schools and in the
juvenile community,'' Police Department spokesman David Gouran said
today. "As of right now, they're just that -- rumors.''

Teen's murder remains mystery as cops seek 3

Many students at Whitehorse Middle School and La Follette High School
are saying they believe Adrian's murder was somehow related to drugs
- -- and that Adrian was killed during a home invasion that targeted his
15-year-old brother, Luis Gonzalez.

Police confirmed today they are actively investigating a host of tips
and rumors they have received about a drug connection.

"We acknowledge that is one of the centerpieces in the rumor mill and
we are investigating it,'' Gouran said. "But right now we honestly
can't say if that's germane to the case.''

He would not say whether any drugs were found in the course of a
search of the home after the murder. "At this time we have to decline
to comment on that.''

Adrian Gonzalez was killed Saturday afternoon after three young men
came to the boy's family home at 45 Sinykin Circle.

Police said the men knocked on the door and asked for Luis. Luis was
apparently upstairs at the time and the three men were let into the
house by another family member or friend who did not know them, Gouran
said.

Police won't discuss the details of what happened next, but somehow a
struggle ensued in which Luis was shot twice in the legs and Adrian
was fatally shot in the torso.

"It's not really clear to us if they went there with the purpose of
shooting someone or if that was something that just happened,'' Gouran
said.

The men were at the house for less than 10 minutes before fleeing on
foot. They are believed to have gotten into a vehicle, but
investigators have several different descriptions.

About eight detectives are working on the case and have interviewed
more than 50 people, Gouran said. Some of those interviewed have been
possible suspects while others were witnesses and tipsters.

Crime Stoppers coordinator Sam Kellogg said police have received about
a dozen credible tips that are currently being pursued.

"The status of our investigation at this point is that we are
continuing to talk to people,'' Gouran said. "We're not by any means
at a dead end. Detectives are satisfied with their progress.''

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