Police track down bike that cost youth his life

Luis Navarro III lost his life over the weekend - at the age of 16 - over a brand-new dirt bike.

Navarro's family was left shattered in the wake of his cold-hearted killing, forcing them to come to grips with a life that was cut short because of empty-headed envy.

Yesterday afternoon, homicide investigators moved closer to solving the Juniata teen's slaying, perhaps bringing his family a measure of relief.

A police officer received a tip that three teens had been seen in the Summerdale section of the Northeast, pushing a green-and-white dirt bike that resembled the one Navarro was riding when he was shot three times in Tacony Creek Park Saturday night.

The officer found the teens - and the bike - in a house on Marcella Street near Summerdale Avenue, said Homicide Lt. Philip Riehl. A weapon also was found in the house, but investigators have not determined if it had been used in Navarro's slaying.

The teens were taken to Police Headquarters for questioning, while a check of a serial number on the bike found that it was the same Kawasaki KX85 that Navarro's parents had given him just last week for his birthday.

Riehl said last night that two of the teens were going to be released and likely would not face any charges.

Riehl declined to identify the third teen as a suspect but said that he could face "charges of some kind" today.

Relatives described Navarro, of Pennhurst Street near Courtland, as a kind, helpful boy who liked to tinker with bicycles and motorcycles.

Navarro attended Mastbaum Area Vocational Technical School and dreamed of becoming a mechanic, his family said. *