Update: Missing SU senior fell into Onondaga Creek, SPD confirms
SU senior fell into Onondaga creek, SPD confirms
Local authorities have confirmed that missing SU senior Allan Gonzalez accidentally fell into Onondaga Creek a week ago. Syracuse Police have yet to locate him, but are actively searching.
The College of Engineering and Computer Science senior was reported missing by his roommate on Jan. 21. After word of his disappearance spread on social media, police received a tip from a woman who believed she had an interaction with Gonzalez at Benjamin’s on Franklin in Armory Square at around midnight on Jan. 18.
“Having now learned what Gonzalez was wearing and one of the bars he visited, police were able to determine that later in the morning, he was walking on Walton Street toward Onondaga Creek,” Sgt. Matthew Malinowski said to Syracuse.com.
Police were able to positively identify Gonzalez on surveillance footage from Benjamin’s on Franklin from the night of his disappearance. Syracuse Police also located a hat on the bank of the creek that is suspected to be Gonzalez’s. Malinowski confirmed to local media there was additional video footage that showed Gonzalez falling into the creek around 3 a.m. close to where the hat was located.
Syracuse Police are concerned they have been unable to locate Gonzalez. However, Malinowski told local media they are not ready to suggest that Gonzalez may have died. Police have also cited “environmental factors” that have slowed their efforts to locate the SU senior.
Emergency personal spent close to two hours searching the frigid waters of the creek in the early morning Jan. 19, after a report came in that a male was seen in the creek. The search continued in the days following but failed in locating Gonzalez, Malinowski confirmed.
Syracuse police and Syracuse University officials remain deeply concerned about Gonzalez’s safety. Syracuse Police are welcoming any information from the public and thank those who have come forward and helped create a timeline of his whereabouts. Anyone with any further information about Gonzalez should contact Syracuse Police at 315-442-5222.