Man pleads not guilty in death

<p>A young man charged with fatally shooting his 17-year-old cousin pleaded not guilty Friday in court.</p><p>Jose Mendez Gonzalez, 19, of Healdsburg was formally arraigned and entered his plea to a murder charge in the death of his cousin, Pedro "Pepe" Gonzalez Ruiz.</p><p>Sheriff's detectives believe Mendez shot Gonzalez several times in the head and torso along Westside Road near Forestville sometime between last Friday night and Saturday night.</p><p>Investigators believe the two young men traveled to the scene together. A gun believed to have been used in the killing was found nearby.</p><p>Detectives said Mendez believed he had been mistreated by his cousin, though they haven't offered details of the alleged motive.</p><p>The cousins worked together at Molsberry's Market in Larkfield.</p><p>Gonzalez was a student at Marce Becerra Academy, a continuation school on the Healdsburg High School campus.</p><p>Mendez, who kept his head down throughout most of Friday's brief hearing, is scheduled back in court July 23 to set further court dates.</p><p>He remains in custody at Sonoma County Jail.</p>