The murder of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as Junior, drew outrage across New York City. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". Reyes fled to the Dominican Republic on June 21 to see his mother after learning he was present in a murder but returned the following day and handed himself in to police before entering a plea deal in August. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. Following the lengthy opening statements from the prosecution and defense attorneys for the five suspected gang members, the first of 14 to stand trial, the first witness took the stand. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Guzman-Feliz for a rival when they stabbed him to death, Last defendant convicted in 2018 killing of Bronx teen Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz, 5 gang members plead guilty to killing of Bronx teen, 16 members of violent Trinitarios gang charged with high-end NYC robberies in sweeping indictment, Two gang leaders convicted in murder of Junior Guzman-Feliz, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members, Juniors mom at one point screaming and sobbing in court. It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The incident revealed the barbaric tactics of a gang called the Trinitarios, and it laid bare a glaring paradox: Amid historically low crime rates in New York, police are still struggling to contain brutal violence in some neighborhoods. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? Seeing his sons clothing proved too much to bear for Juniors father, Lesandro Guzman, who left the courtroom shortly after Oikawas testimony. But these verdicts will send a messageto those who would commitacts of senseless violenc, and help us move forward and bring closure to this awful chapter in our borough's history.". Select from premium Lesandro of the highest quality. After a weeks-long trial filled with emotional testimonies, chilling revelations and graphic photos, the jury reached a verdict in the Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz murder trial. It led to a clearer morality tale. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. Diego Suero leaving the 48th Precinct in the Bronx. They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. And on the night before Juniors murder, he had witnessed another stabbing at Adams Place. "Today's verdicts will not bring Junior back. MORE: Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder However, four defense attorneys contested this notion, describing during opening statements that most of Guzman-Feliz's wounds as superficial and said it was the one cut to the throat that killed him. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. There are nine others charged in Guzman's murder that are still awaiting trial. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? Then hes dragged from the bodega and brutally stabbed by a swarm of attackers. The night of the murder, my client, Manuel Rivera, wasnt carrying a machete; he wasnt a monster and he never intended to kill Junior. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. Crime Scene Unit Det. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. He felt cool. The convicted killers will be sentenced Tuesday, July 16. New York Police Department . The only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. His English was poor. UPDATE! That order came during a bloody feud within the Trinitarios that had pitted Sunset, which is based in Brooklyn, against Mr. Sueros two Bronx sets, the witnesses said. In the video, we see the 15 . Warning Graphic Video Below. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. Goldberg hammered the medical examiner to get his point across that his client did not cause any physical injury to Junior, because a machete would have resulted in decapitation or mutilation. The store owner unlocked a door leading to the area where Lesandro was hiding, Mr. Alvarez said, and told them to take the fight outside. Is that why Junior was targeted? Nine others charged in the killing are awaiting trial. She replied that the wounds they spoke of were superficial and that the only wound that caused his death was the one to his neck. It was Mr. Suero who had sent them out on June 20, 2018, armed with machetes and knives, to search for members of Sunset to attack, the two cooperating witnesses said. The ADAs argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Juniors neck the medical examiner says killed him. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. One man, identified by prosecutors as Jose Tavarez, enters the bodega and spots Junior. "See what happens with those killers," said Leandra Feliz. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. A jury began deliberating Thursday on the five mens fates. She said it cut the bone that protects the spinal cord and left an exit wound on the other side of his neck. (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). In a photo obtained by The Post, a smiling Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, 15, wears an NYPD Explorers jacket proudly as he looks at the camera. Juniors mother Leandra Guzman had to be escorted from the courtroom last week when she began screaming and shaking after viewing gruesome footage of her son being attacked by a group of alleged gangbangers. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. The blood-soaked clothes worn by slain Bronx teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz as he was hacked at by a machete-wielding mob were displayed to jurors at the boy's murder trial Thursday,. Junior and the bodega owner appear to have an exchange with Kevin Alvarez before Junior is grabbed and beaten on the ground. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. Mr. Reyes testified that Lesandro responded by raising his hand and saying Que lo siete, which Mr. Reyes said signaled that the teenager was a Sunset member. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. He believed hed found a place to belong. was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. Closing arguments continue in the murder trial of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. Five menSantiago Rodriguez, 24, Joniki Matinez, 24, Jose Muniz, 21, Danel Fernandez, 21, and Manuel Rivera, 18are currently on trial for the 2018 filmed murder. The desperate teenager tried to hide inside of a bodega, but the gang members dragged him from the store and stabbed him to death as security cameras recorded the gruesome scene. In recent months, turf wars have spiked among rival Trinitario factions. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. This Aint One Of Them: Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later. But Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro clearly told the gang he wasnt Sunset. Police officials also have said Lesandro did not belong to a gang. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. Once that video was out, it took on a life of its own causing the defendants to lose the presumption of innocence and any chance for a fair trial (at least that close in time to the event itself under one year. The store has not opened since last Wednesday when the incident took place. "This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like . Defense lawyers for the four other defendants said in their closing arguments that the order from Mr. Suero had only been to injure a Sunset member, not to kill someone. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. They're not gonna forget it. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. But Reyes told the court that he couldnt follow through with Sueros order after looking Junior in the face. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. The second day of trial in the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was emotional and filled with graphic video and photos. Our investigation retraces Juniors last steps and uncovers new details that may answer why he was targeted. But its too late. Facing first-degree murder charges in Juniors death are alleged Trinitarios street gang members Antonio Rodriguez, Hernandez Santiago, Elvin Garcia, Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, Jos Muiz and Manuel Rivera. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]. Dr. Rodriguez said its possible if pressure was applied to the wound and Junior was brought to the hospital earlier, he could have survived. Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boys death later his year. The knife used to deliver the lethal blow to Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz last June 20 went clear through the teens neck, causing him to bleed to death, the medical examiner, Dr. Sophia Rodriguez, testified. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. JOLIET, Ill. - A toddler accidentally shot himself in the head after he found an unsecured gun in a Joliet home Tuesday afternoon, according to police. The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. Members of the NYPD Junior league attend Lesandro Guzman-Feliz's funeral cerenomy at Our . Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. Instead, he said, he watched as other Trinitarios members dragged Junior outside and hacked him to death with machetes and knives. The referrals are a nice bonus too! She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon Wounds to his hands believed to be caused by a sharp object, possibly a knife, were considered to be defensive wounds where Junior put his hands up to protect his face. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. At least 10 people had been injured in June in a series of street battles. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. Some Trinitarios took orders from Mr. Suero, whom they called Santa Claus, according to Mr. Alvarez and Michael Reyes, who also testified for the prosecution. Mr. Alvarez testified for the prosecution in return for a lenient sentence. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. In the beginning of the video, the teen is seen trying to hide behind the counter. The panel found all five guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree gang assault. After Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Fernandez pulled the boy outside, the others attacked. The teen wanted to be a police. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. In the video, we see the 15-year-old ask for the help from the worker of the Cruz and Chiky Grocery on E. 183rd St. in the Bronx. But the owner appears to direct him away. JOLIET, Ill. (AP) A Chicago-area toddler was hospitalized in critical condition Tuesday after finding an unsecured gun and shooting himself in the head, police said. It brought cries for vengeance couched in the Justice for Junior slogan. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. What we do know is that for Junior like many teenagers growing up in gang-afflicted areas theres a fine line between hanging out on the streets and getting caught up in deadly violence. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. Junior is on summer break from school. "If they continue the violence in the city, theyre going to get the same thing. He makes it to the entrance of the hospital before collapsing. Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. Reyes, a member of the Bad Boys one of two Trinitarios subsets said gangbangers were gathered outside Sueros apartment, just one block from the slay-scene bodega at East 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue, when they were instructed to hunt down members of the rival Sunset crew for recently shooting a Bad Boy member. The murder was just as horrific. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. Its 11:37. Heres how Lexis Search Advantage | Transactional unites internal and external research to create better deals faster. Dixons closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Felizs neck which reportedly killed him. Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. stop killing our brothersThe full story about 15-year old teen junior stabbed to death Justice for. Do not sell my information. There, leaders passed around cellphone pictures of various Sunset members and asked the returning soldiers to identify the person they stabbed. Some Work Things Are Optional. Guzman-Feliz's death sparked outrage in the Bronx and beyond and spurred the allocation of $18 million toward gang prevention in the borough. Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? On Monday, City Council members Ritchie Torres, Vanessa Gibson, and Rafael Salamanca wrote a letter to Department of Consumer Affairs asking that the bodega be shut down. But the glee I saw in the eyes of spectators at the reading of straight convictions for Murder I was not founded. I saw he was scared, and he reminded me of a person that I had seen before, Reyes said, adding he felt very bad about the murder. 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The case grabbed the attention of New Yorkers and across the nation, given that the brutal machete killing of the 15-year-old boy that took place inside a Bronx bodega in the summer of 2018 was captured on surveillance. The murder of Lesandro rattled the city, prompting outrage on social media and calls for justice from elected officials and celebrities, including the rapper Cardi B and the Yankees pitcher C.C. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. Officer Kyle Oiwaka of the 48th Precinct took the stand on the 12th day of trial to testify about responding to a reported knife assault on the June 2018 night Junior was killed, and gave chilling details of the gory scene. Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. Then he walked toward Adams Place, where he sometimes met with friends. That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. The men, traveling in four cars, spotted Lesandro, and one of them shouted a Trinitarios greeting at him: Sunset, Popo, then 1090, which was a password Los Sures used to identify Sunset members, Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes said. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. He was a skinny kid, just 120 pounds, 56 inches tall. Only someone in the gang would know the response. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. The OCME said Wednesday the teens death in the Belmont area of the Bronx was a stab wound to the neck, and classified the death as a homicide. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was dragged out of the Cruz and Chiky Grocery bodega at E. 183rd St. and Bathgate Ave in the Belmont neighborhood on Wednesday night. Erica Byfield reports. In a panic, he tries to hide behind the counter. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. Yes, he put the knife through his neck. It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence, "Today Junior's family, and in fact our entire city, has received a measure of justice," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz said in a statement. But a leading police theory is the attackers mistakenly believed Junior was in a rival gang. The friend says he told Junior not to come over because it was late. The murder of Lesandro, who went by the nickname Junior, was well documented on videotape from security cameras and the cellphones of witnesses, providing prosecutors with hard proof to support their case. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged out and then hacked to death by five men with machetes on June 20, 2018, in the Bronx. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. Fellow defendant Jose Muniz was heard saying "Trinitarios to the day I die" as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. 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A teenager hunted down and dragged from a New York City bodega, then swarmed by attackers outside. Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz. The murder of 15-year-old Guzman-Feliz, who was known as Junior, has captivated the community and public interest, partly because the brutal June 20 attack was caught on surveillance video. I dont want to see it again. Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. Dr. Sophia Rodriguez from the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner performed Juniors autopsy and testified that the more than 4-inch deep wound was caused by a single-edge knife or blade. Theyre believed to have targeted Guzman-Feliz because they believed he was affiliated with a rival gang responsible for shooting one of their members two days earlier. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. They attempted to cast blame on Mr. Martinez Estrella for Lesandros death. Fourteen men have been criminally charged in connection with Guzman-Felizs slaying. ", If you have a gun, you shoot, he testified. All of the men charged have pleaded not guilty. Ultimately, he was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity.
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