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. The convicted killers will be sentenced Tuesday, July 16. ", "It was a terrible year, it felt like 10 years. But what the autopsy report meticulously documented was that Junior suffered minor physical injury, superficial wounds, no bigger than a lentil, except for a large wound to his neck. Toni Messina has tried over 100 cases and has been practicing criminal law and immigration since 1990. GRAPHIC: CCTV and bystanders filming with their phones captured the gruesome Bronx bodega machete stabbing murder of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman by Trinitarios gang members. The referrals are a nice bonus too! At Least Your Colleague Spat Wasnt This Bad: Some things we just dont share with the class. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. Theodore Parisienne for The New York Times. 'Junior' trial star witness Kevin Alvarez describes moment - PIX11 We will never sell or share your information without your consent. At about 10:30 p.m., the second-in-command of Los Sures, Frederick Then, 20, also known as Colita, told the men they were headed to the Little Italy section of the Bronx to search for their rivals. I explained to her what happened and she told me that I had to come back and face my consequences, he said about confessing to his mom. Even as the evidence demonstrated that Junior was killed by only one man, Janaki Estrella-Martinez, the false narrative had taken hold and all five defendants were convicted of the highest crime in New York State murder by torture. Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Its like my son was right here with me., (L-R) Leandra Feliz and Lesandro Guzman, the mother and father of Lesandro (Junior) Guzman-Feliz, leave Bronx Supreme Court after the arraignments of 12 alleged Trinitarios gang members in July 2018. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. Meanwhile, during closing arguments the defense told jurors that the prosecution had failed to prove the suspects wanted to kill Junior, arguing testimony from star witnesses showed the men intended to hurt Junior, not kill him.. The jury of 11 women and a man took only two days to decide the fates of the defendants Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 25, Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 25, Jose Muniz, 23, Manuel Rivera, 19, and Elvin Garcia, 25. However, all 12 alleged gang members were indicted on second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. Investigators say the group mistook Guzman-Feliz, who was not affiliated with any gang, for a member of the rival fraction of the Trinitarios gang. Mr. Alvarez said he and other gang members tried to block Lesandro with their cars, but the teenager fled into the Cruz and Chiky Grocery, a bodega at East 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue. Students and staff from the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School gathered Friday to honor Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz, who was tragically stabbed to death in 2018. Except thats not what happened. 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. Nothing can. Passersby try to help. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. (L-R) Leandra Feliz and Lesandro Guzman, the mother and father of Lesandro (Junior) Guzman-Feliz, leave Bronx Supreme Court after the arraignments of 12 alleged Trinitarios gang members in July 2018. She detailed the fatal path of the knife through the teens neck, which left a gaping hole on one side and a puncture wound on the other. 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. The attention this case brings to the heinous nature of gangs is important. If you have a knife, you stab. New York Police Department . After that, they will lead off summations. (No one claims responsibility.) . Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as 'Junior,' was mistaken for another person in a murder earlier this week described as "among the most brutal crimes I've seen in my 36yr career," New York . Junior's mother said that Friday's verdict will sends a message to all those who would do something similar to what happened to her son. Heres How To Get Yours Right. How do you protect your children from predators? READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. Richard Harbus "A Bronx jury found the two leaders guilty for their role in the murder, closing another chapter of. 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.". How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the murder conviction. Dr. Rodriguez confirmed what was already revealed in her report: that Juniors cause of death was a stab wound to the neck that came from a knife 4 1/2 inches in depth cutting his jugular vein.. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Members of the Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program attending a memorial for Lesandro last year. All Five Defendants Found Guilty of Murder in Brutal 'Junior' Guzman WNBC reported that the grisly images brought some of the jurors to tears. On the night of June 20th , he was ordered by a leader nicknamed Psycho to find a Sunset (a rival gang member). Only by addressing these issues might other young men like Junior not be killed, and still others like four of the five defendants in this case, not be condemned to life in prison for the actions of a few seconds done by a fellow gang member which they never intended. Only someone in the gang would know the response. People visit murder site to mourn the death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz in Bronx in New York, United States on June 27, 2018. . 'Very painful': Father of slain Bronx teen Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. Officers were called to a . Eight others are awaiting trial. "The knife made it from the right side to left of Juniors neck, hit the muscle, hit the veinhit the tissue on the back side of the mouth," she said. Man arrested for stealing fire department truck:, Coincidence prompted Powerball winner to buy ticket, Two women attacked from behind by group: NYPD, Moose on the Loose: Battle to become Yankees shortstop, Pop-up grocery store opens in Greenwich Village, Expert raises awareness about eating disorders, NY Rep. Dan Goldman talks House ethics probe into, What to know about teens and their mental health, Read Across America Day kicks off at NYC bookstore, Womens History Month: Highlighting women in medicine. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. According to . The dad struggled to make a living and Manuel struggled in school. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. His history was whitewashed. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. A post shared by Robert Williams (@areumdawo_saja), Jury Finds All Five Defendants Guilty Of Murdering Bronx Teen Junior Guzman-Feliz, New Owners Of Bodega Where Junior Was Killed Want To Rename Store After Slain Teen, Bronx Street Renamed To Honor Slain Teen Junior, Bronx Bodega Where Teen Junior Was Attacked Reopens Temporarily, Legendary Jazz Saxophonist Wayne Shorter Has Died, White Student At Howard University Law School Sues for $2 Million Over Racial Discrimination, R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years For Child Sex Crimes, Family of Malcolm X Files $100 Million Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against NYPD & Others. Junior then walks out of the bodega. Its 11:39. Why do so many buy into a life that restricts their freedom, imposes beatings for disobeying gang rules, and calls for violence to others? The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. Heres a list of where to volunteer in NYC: Lex Lumpkin talks about new show The Watchful Eye, Debunking food safety myths with a chefs help, Fun, easy Holi-inspired crafts to try with kids, Spot warning signs of teens declining mental health, Simple spring break cocktails to make at home, Patrick Kane to make Rangers debut against Senators, Rangers KAndre Miller suspended 3 games for spitting, Kane incoming? But its too late. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. . She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. 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. After Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Fernandez pulled the boy outside, the others attacked. 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. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. Closing Aguments In 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz Murder Trial They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. She said the jugular wound caused him to lose a lot of blood, but blood rushed out more quickly because no one applied pressure and he ran to the hospital. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Newly released videos show Junior's desperate final moments before being hacked to death PIX11 News 186K subscribers Subscribe Like Save 3.8M views 4 years ago Show more Show more Notice. A string of shootings across Chicago Wednesday left at least 10 people shot, and, according to police, at least half of those who suffered gunshot wounds were under the age of 16. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was slashed in the neck with a machete at a bodega in the Bronx on June 19, 2018. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. Junior is on summer break from school. 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. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. Cause of death released for Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. But Reyes told the court that he couldnt follow through with Sueros order after looking Junior in the face. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. But in this case, she couldnt. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. ", If you have a gun, you shoot, he testified. She has not been back to court since. They gathered outside of Mr. Sueros apartment building on Boston Road, where they smoked hookah and played music. Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz. READ: #JusticeForJunior: A Group of Men Fatally Stabbed Bronx Teen With Machete. Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. Lesandro Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Also consider other hobbies. My client, age 18 (and nine months, as the prosecutor liked to remind jurors), had joined a dangerous gang, the Trinitarios, and without the benefit of his mother, left behind in the Dominican Republic, made some very poor decisions that will now land him in jail probably for the rest of his life. On his way there, Junior was in touch with this friend, who lives on Adams Place and who, according to our reporting, is not in a gang, either. 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. A New York prosecutor detailed how hard a 15-year-old tried to fight off a group of accused gang members as they allegedly stabbed him to death in front of a bodega last summer. Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. 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. The defense will have a chance Monday to call witnesses to the stand if they chose. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon But the glee I saw in the eyes of spectators at the reading of straight convictions for Murder I was not founded. Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boys death later his year. This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. A bottle of hate had been uncorked and there was no way to close it. Closing arguments continue in the murder trial of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. Select from premium Lesandro of the highest quality. But it was Mr. Martinez Estrella who delivered the fatal blow when he shoved a large knife into the side of Lesandros neck, penetrating 4.5 inches and cutting his jugular vein, a medical examiner testified. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. Medical Examiner Reveals Findings in Machete Death of 15-Year-Old NYC 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. (Obtained by NY Daily News). If convicted, they face life in prison. The federal judiciary is getting more diverse. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. dragged him from the store and stabbed him to death. Grim details on Junior Guzman-Feliz murder sparks dad to lash out in Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue.
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