Teen missing for two weeks
Gunfire heard at party where boy was last seen
8 comments below
Homicide detectives probing the disappearance of a 15-year-old Greenport boy believe the teen was confronted by a group of gang members at a house party and may be a victim of foul play, police said.
Eber Lopez was last seen at a June 7 christening celebration in Southold, where neighbors said they heard three gunshots just before midnight. Two young women living at the Wild Cherry Way home where the party took place said police found blood in the backyard.
"There is a strong possibility that he is the victim of foul play," said Suffolk Police deputy inspector Robert Oswald.
He would not comment on the reports of gunshots or blood evidence.
Southold cops began investigating the case on Sunday, June 8, after Eber failed to show up for work at a deli in Greenport. Suffolk Police detectives picked up the case on Tuesday and, according to neighbors, spent several days combing the Southold property for evidence.
It is unclear why Eber attended the party or whom he knew at the christening. Police said it's not likely he belongs to a gang.
"There was music and loud talking, then I heard the gunshots go boom, boom, boom," he said. "When I flicked on the lights and looked out the window, I saw a car zoom away."
Mara Gunusen, who lives two houses away from the party, also heard the gunfire, she said.
"It's a mystery. And all that the detectives tell me is 'You are safe,'" Ms. Gunusen said.
Two young couples rent the home at 75 Wild Cherry Way, and have lived there for six months with three young children. The two women at the home reported that police told them about the gunshots, but the women said they were in the basement around midnight and never heard a gun go off.
"They found blood outside the house," said one of the women, who gave her age, 21, but asked not to be identified. "We had a party in the basement, so we didn't hear the gunshots."
The other woman, 18-year-old Carla Escobar, who has an 8-month-old daughter, said she is concerned for her family's safety.
"I don't know what's going to happen," she said. "We're very nervous."
Both women said they did not know Eber.
In spite of the homicide department's role in the investigation, Insp. Oswald said Eber's case remains a missing person investigation.
"Until he's found, you don't know what you have," he said.
The house where police said the teen lives is a dilapidated, two-story home that appears to house two families -- with the entrance to one section in the front, and the Lopez family entrance on the side where about a dozen work shoes were scattered on the porch Tuesday night.
There was nobody available at the home for comment, and people in the neighborhood said they did not know Eber. School officials said there is no record of Eber attending school in Greenport or Southold.
Investigators asked anyone with information regarding Eber's case to call the homicide squad at 852-6392 or Crime Stoppers at (800)220-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential, police said.
Julie Lane contributed to this report
bharmon@timesreview.com
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8 comments found
: 6/22/2009
There is more to this case then meets the eye don't jump to conclusions so quickly with out knowing all the facts, as to what and when the public knew.
: 6/20/2009
The public has a right to know if there is a CHILD MISSING. The public should know, NO EXCEPTIONS. How does anyone decide who does and does not have information. If it was a white child from a good republican family in town, it would have been on the national news in hours. Nobody has any idea if the deli owners knew anything. Don't just make assumptions. You know what they say about them.
obviously finding the child comes first : 6/19/2009
I want to leave no room for interpretation. Finding this kid is priority #1 without question. The other stuff is completely secondary. --------------------------- Keep in mind the kid was headed down the wrong path without being in school and I want to know if his employer knew it. Just b/c you didn't find out about this until a week later does not mean they haven't been investigating the case.
: 6/19/2009
your worried aboout the deli?!?!?! A15 year old child is missing. The cops basically ignored it for a week!! What the heck is wrong with you? find the kid, investigate the cops and then the rest
Smelly Deli? : 6/18/2009
First, I would like to say that this is a tragedy any way you look at it. The home had 15 pairs of work shoes... yes, everyone wants to know if Eber is a legal citizen (not that it should matter). Eber was not in school at the age of 15... this leads me to believe he might be an illegal immigrant. Either way the deli owner may have broken several laws. If he is illegal the deli owner obviously broke the law. If he is legal the deli owner still may have broke the law - in NY a minor cannot work more then 40 hrs/wk. OR work during school hours. Would someone please clear or "out" the deli owner ASAP. Do you have an answer Mr. Harmon?
missing person : 6/18/2009
If it was a white girl from Southold you bet your life the cheif of police would have gotten the word out! We need to call for an investigation on this
Late reporting : 6/18/2009
We put breaking news on this site as soon as we have it. While the disappearance occurred June 7, the police did not inform the press until June 16. The police said they did not go public with this incident because they were investigating.
Late Reporting : 6/18/2009
We always seem to get last weeks news today. Do you suppose you might find a way to report in a more timely fashion?
