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 New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. 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. The cars then split up and appear to surround him. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. Lesandro, who had hidden behind the counter, pleaded with the men, saying he was not the person they were looking for. Our investigation retraces Juniors last steps and uncovers new details that may answer why he was targeted. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. Prior to deliberations starting, the judge told the jury they could deliberate over the five defendants on trial separately and return individual verdicts or wait to return the verdicts of all five at once. One of the Trinitarios, who turned cooperator and will now face no jail time, dragged Junior from the bodega where he was hiding and onto the street. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. Fellow defendant Jose Muniz was heard saying "Trinitarios to the day I die" as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who went by the nickname Junior, was a member of the Police Department's Law Enforcement Explorers program before he was killed last year. 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. In a panic, he tries to hide behind the counter. A teenager hunted down and dragged from a New York City bodega, then swarmed by attackers outside. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Privacy Center | Reyes said the order implied: If you have a gun, shoot it, if you a have a knife, you stab, if you have a machete, you use it.. That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year. Junior then walks out of the bodega. According to prosecutors, Jos Muniz first hacks Junior with a machete. It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. Hes at home with his mother. Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? According to police, the drivers spot Junior and taunt him. Warning: Details of Fridays testimony are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some. The knife made it from the right side to the left, hit the muscle, hit the (jugular) vein, went behind the throat, hit the tissue on the back side of the mouth, Dr. Rodriguez said. They pursued him in cars, mistaking the aspiring NYPD detective for a gangbanger because he supposedly resembled a known one. Mr. Muniz rushed over wielding a machete while Mr. Garcia, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago stabbed at him with large knives, security camera video and other evidence showed. How do you protect your children from predators? The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. She has not been back to court since. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Five men approached, including Manuel, weapons in hand. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. The teen wanted to be a police. But at the end, it has a happy ending," said Manny Ortiz. Junior rushes into this bodega just one block from his home. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Passersby 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. WPIX reported that theyre charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, gang assault, and conspiracy. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . 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. 2023 Breaking Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Then, Elvin Garcia, who police say is seen here wearing a mask. Then he walked toward Adams Place, where he sometimes met with friends. : Reach out just to catch up. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. "This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like . If you have a knife, you stab. Theodore Parisienne for The New York Times. How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. 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.". Reyes told the jury he chased a frightened Junior inside the bodega and lied to the storekeeper that the teen had done something to my grandmother.. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. The indicted are due back in court Oct. 25. The officer said Juniors clothes had to be repackaged the day after they were vouchered into evidence as the blood was soaking through the paper bags they had been stored in. 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. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. WNBC reported that the grisly images brought some of the jurors to tears. Closing arguments proved to be just as emotional, as some jury members shed tears. Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. He was walking toward Adams Place, a small street about five minutes away thats known for gang activity. They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. Video surveillance showed the men dragging Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz out of a Bronx bodega on his back and stabbing him with long knives and a machete. The ADAs argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Juniors neck the medical examiner says killed him. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. Surveillance footage from June shows a street chase by suspected members of the Trinitarios gang, as they hunted down 15-year-old Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. Anyone can read what you share. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . Eight others are awaiting trial. Why do so many buy into a life that restricts their freedom, imposes beatings for disobeying gang rules, and calls for violence to others? Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. He leaves and immediately three other men enter. The medical examiner testified she was a lumper a doctor who looks to combine injuries and conclude that they all might have contributed to death. Manuel enjoyed the Trinitarios parties, the hookah, the beads, the hand signs, the comradery, and fact that they had his back. Following that, no amount of logic, analysis, or pleas for reason could convince jurors to set aside their emotions. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. He gave a coded gang response when asked a question by a Trinitarios gang member driving by. 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. At least 10 people had been injured in June in a series of street battles. (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. But its too late. Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. There, leaders passed around cellphone pictures of various Sunset members and asked the returning soldiers to identify the person they stabbed. Mere days after the trial kicked off startling never-before-seen footage of the savage machete attack was presented by prosecutors. 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.. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. Diego Suero leaving the 48th Precinct in the Bronx. Amazingly, a customer is seen purchasing an item over Juniors blood. Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro was not in the photos. On the night of June 20th , he was ordered by a leader nicknamed Psycho to find a Sunset (a rival gang member). Criminal defense attorney Chris Carrion has been observing the trial from the start. Heres How To Get Yours Right. They said that the store did not show good moral character. There is also a petition being spread around demanding the store get its license revoked. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence., Lesandros mother, Leandra Feliz said, Im not going to have my son back, but those killers, those murderers, theyre not going to be outside killing another kid.. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. His English was poor. Nils Gerber and Stephen Ball, Stacks' attorneys, presented evidence and rested their case after about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Brown said Janari became the 38th juvenile murdered in gun violence in Chicago in the first seven months of 2020. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. (Police were stationed in the street outside court, anticipating a riot should the verdict not have come back as guilty on all counts.). ", If you have a gun, you shoot, he testified. Police have identified them as: Danel Fernandez, Kevin Alvarez, and Michael Sosa Reyes, who has not been charged in relation to Juniors killing. 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Sabathia. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Had Junior not been stabbed in the neck during the last seconds of the attack, he would have likely walked home barely injured except for abrasions to his body caused by being dragged out of the store and punched. This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. WNBC reported that the . 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. (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). Toni Messina has tried over 100 cases and has been practicing criminal law and immigration since 1990. Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? Its 11:37. Some Work Things Are Optional. We want to know your views on law firm policies and culture. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. Guzman-Feliz's mother, Leandra Feliz, wept and screamed at times during the emotional trial.. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. They gathered outside of Mr. Sueros apartment building on Boston Road, where they smoked hookah and played music. A dozen alleged gang members were indicted July 18, with five charged with first degree murder, which includes torture, for the June 20 death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz and could face life in prison without parole. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. 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. 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. The only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. 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. Surveillance cameras reportedly caught a group of men dragging Guzman-Feliz outside a Bronx bodega before attacking him. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. Assistant District Attorney Morgan Dolan used her time to go into detail about what the five defendants are accused of doing trapping Guzman at the Bronx bodega and hacking him to death with a machete. At the foot of the location I noticed a lot of blood, and people frantically screaming," Officer Oiwaka said about arriving at the entrance to St. Barnabas Hospital in Belmont, where Junior bleeding profusely from his wounds had collapsed in a frantic attempt to get help. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? 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. 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. He makes it to the entrance of the hospital before collapsing. Junior is on summer break from school. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. The 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Officer Oikawa would later learn. : Enjoy. 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. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. If convicted, they face life in prison. Only someone in the gang would know the response. But Morgan Dolan, the lead prosecutor, countered that weapons like knives and machetes kill and the gang members went in knowing that.. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. After the attack, the gang returned to Mr. Sueros home on Boston Road, Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes said. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. A Trinitarios ringleader, Diego Suero, issued the order to his minions, who then mistook Guzman-Feliz for a rival when they stabbed him to death outside a bodega June 20, 2018, cooperating witness and gang member Michael Sosa Reyes, 20, told Bronx Supreme Court jurors. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. "A bright, beloved, athletic, soon-to . Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? 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. Video: EXCLUSIVE: Race faker Jessica Krug hailed Bronx bodega murder of 15-year-old Junior Guzman a 'revolutionary moment' because 'he wanted to be a cop' and mistakenly claimed he was . 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. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. 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. Is that why Junior was targeted? It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. During Tuesdays closing arguments, Bronx assistant district attorney Morgan Dolan told the jury how Lesandro Guzman-Feliz valiantly avoided multiple attempted stabbings by a mob of men who had dragged him out of a bodega on June 20. Yesterday lawyers for four of the suspects accused of stabbing 15-year-old . All five defendants Antonio Santigo, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera, Estrella and Muniz were members of the Trinitarios gang. According to . One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. 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 mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. But the glee I saw in the eyes of spectators at the reading of straight convictions for Murder I was not founded. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. This story has been shared 137,355 times. An order had come from Mr. Suero, he said: Go after Sunset you already know what you have to do., Mr. Reyes said he understood that to be an order to do any kind of damage. Martin Goldberg, defense attorney for Jose Muniz who once cried in court during his arraignment said his client was made the poster boy for Juniors horrific death, because Muniz was seen carrying a machete. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. Putting four young men in jail for life for a murder they didnt intend (each was either running away, or nowhere near Junior when Estrella inflicted the fatal wound) should thrill no one. Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. 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,. Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boys death later his year. 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 boys murder trial Thursday, prompting several spectators to burst into tears and his anguished father to exit the courtroom. But the owner appears to direct him away. 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. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. The defense team asked Dr. Rodriguez if any of these additional wounds contributed to the teens death. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. I dont want to see it again. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. It is unclear what the jury decided on. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. 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. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. But a leading police theory is the attackers mistakenly believed Junior was in a rival gang. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon 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. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. The New York Post ran a front-page headline in bold caps,. The referrals are a nice bonus too! The friend says they felt things were getting dicey and went inside. Just 20 minutes later, Junior is pronounced dead as a result of a stab wound to the neck. We will never sell or share your information without your consent. That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? Carrion says the testimony that all of the other wounds were superficial and did not cause Juniors death may not help the defense as much as theyd like. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. In the video, we see the 15 . The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. LexisNexis Brief Analysis produces powerful, near-instant legal argumentation insights using the power of AI. 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. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after LesandroJunior Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. Blood was splattered on the floor and counter of Cruz & Chiki Deli on Bathgate Ave and 183rd St., the store Junior was dragged from as he desperately sought refuge from his attackers, the detective said. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. Alvarez, who testified last week as a cooperating witness, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in a deal with Bronx prosecutors and is expected to serve no prison time. 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. But some of his friends were, and he had been hanging out with them at Adams Place recently. I didnt see the kid., 5 Convicted of Hacking Innocent Teenager Junior Guzman to Death, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/14/nyregion/lesandro-guzman-murder-trinitarios-verdict.html. 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. Mistaking him for a member of a rival set, the gang chased the boy, Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, for blocks in the Belmont section of the Bronx, prosecutors said. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. But Reyes told the court that he couldnt follow through with Sueros order after looking Junior in the face. The trial, now in its fourth week, has been checkered with drama, with Juniors mom at one point screaming and sobbing in court in response to grisly CCTV footage shown of her sons murder.