Lawyers for Roman Gonzalez Jr., the 17-year-old charged with murder in the shooting of UK student Jonathan Krueger, plead not guilty on Gonzalez’s behalf Friday in Fayette County Circuit Court. Gonzalez will be tried as an adult.

Gonzalez, along with Efrain Diaz and Justin Delone Smith, were all charged with murder and two counts of first-degree robbery after Krueger was shot and killed April 17 on the 400 block of East Maxwell Street, according to court documents.

The bond for Gonzalez was set at $1 million. Prosecutors asked the judge, Ernesto Scorsone, to set the bond at a minimum of $250,000 because of the seriousness of the charges. The murder charge is still listed as a capital offense, Scorsone said in court.

Gonzalez will appear in court again on July 31. Because Gonzalez is a juvenile, the Kernel was not allowed to take photos in the courtroom.

Lawyers for Smith and Diaz, who were arraigned July 2, also entered not guilty pleas on their behalf. Smith has additional charges of tampering with physical evidence, and fleeing and evading, according to court documents.

STAFF REPORT