Junior and the bodega owner appear to have an exchange with Kevin Alvarez before Junior is grabbed and beaten on the ground. 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 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. . 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. People visit murder site to mourn the death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz in Bronx in New York, United States on June 27, 2018. . 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. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. She has not been back to court since. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges. 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. At least 10 people had been injured in June in a series of street battles. 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. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. ", If you have a gun, you shoot, he testified. They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct. An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior . Anyone can read what you share. All five defendants Antonio Santigo, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera, Estrella and Muniz were members of the Trinitarios gang. Mr. Reyes said the conflict started when two Sunset members joined the Bad Boys, angering a Sunset member who had gone to prison for a crime the two members had committed. 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. There, leaders passed around cellphone pictures of various Sunset members and asked the returning soldiers to identify the person they stabbed. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. 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. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. Only someone in the gang would know the response. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. 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. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. The teen wanted to be a police. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. The first verdict was announced against Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, who delivered the fatal blow with a kitchen knife that ultimately killed Guzman a year ago next week. Just after the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz last June 20, members of the Trinitarios were examining a photo of gang . According to prosecutors, Jos Muniz first hacks Junior with a machete. Lets continue to examine why so many youths, particularly from inner cities, are attracted to the brutality of gangs. 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. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? 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. If they did not participate, the lawyers said, they would have been disciplined. The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. The boy was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. 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 where the teen is seen being dragged outside the bodega and attacked by a gang of five men who stabbed him with knives and hacked him with a machete as he struggled to defend himself. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . 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. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. 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. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. 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.. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied. Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. "This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like . A bottle of hate had been uncorked and there was no way to close it. If you have a machete, use the machete.. The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. 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. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. WPIX reported that theyre charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, gang assault, and conspiracy. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. The trial also included shocking revelations, including when it was learned that the self-proclaimed gang member who testified against the other five alleged Trinitarios members on trial could get off because of his testimony. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. 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. The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. The defense team asked Dr. Rodriguez if any of these additional wounds contributed to the teens death. They hang out on a stoop close by, chatting and listening to hip-hop, according to Jason. 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. If convicted, they face life in prison. Although this position was strenuously argued by defense counsel, the jury ignored it. "A bright, beloved, athletic, soon-to . Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. Mr. Alvarez testified for the prosecution in return for a lenient sentence. [Featured Image: Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz/Facebook], 6-Year-Old Girl, 2 Adults Critically Wounded by Gunmen Looking for the Little Girls Father, Juror: Alex Murdaugh Convinces Himself of His Own Lies, Detroit Man Charged With Killing Friends Tot Daughter, Lesandro Guzman-Feliz valiantly avoided multiple attempted stabbings. She said it cut the bone that protects the spinal cord and left an exit wound on the other side of his neck. READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. 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. If you have a knife, you stab. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. 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. "I saw a smile on my mothers face really, really excited.". 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. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! 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. As Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a press conference following the verdict, Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence. But its too late. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. He was walking toward Adams Place, a small street about five minutes away thats known for gang activity. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict any kind of damage they could on rivals just three days before the murder of innocent teen Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz, according to court testimony Friday. The worker again refuses to help. Its 11:37. Hes making more money from Hogwarts: Legacy than her anyway. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Crime Scene Unit Det. 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. When the attackers walk in, the worker points out where Junior is hiding, and he gets dragged outof the store. Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. (No one claims responsibility.) But the owner appears to direct him away. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. 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. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. Junior is on summer break from school. 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. How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. 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. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. They gathered outside of Mr. Sueros apartment building on Boston Road, where they smoked hookah and played music. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. Junior stumbles back into the bodega, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. 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. 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. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. Antonio Santiago is seen here from this other angle. I dont want to see it again. The second day of trial in the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was emotional and filled with graphic video and photos. 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. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. 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 . But a leading police theory is the attackers mistakenly believed Junior was in a rival gang. Hes been charged with these crimes. Members of the Bronx sets also wanted revenge because a Sunset member had shot one of the Bad Boys in the face, Mr. Alvarez said. The only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . 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. READ: #JusticeForJunior: A Group of Men Fatally Stabbed Bronx Teen With Machete. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. 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. It is unclear what the jury decided on. Meanwhile a number of Bronx businesses are learning to be 'safe havens' for people in danger after a bodega owner was criticized for not doing enough 'Junior', who was killed outside his store. We've received your submission. The friend says they felt things were getting dicey and went inside. I didnt see the person who had just finished getting stabbed there, Mr. Alvarez said, choking back tears. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. The vicious murder in June of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz just blocks from his Bronx home drew outrage from across the city and beyond. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. (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. 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. But in this case, she couldnt. Do not sell my information. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after LesandroJunior Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. Nils Gerber and Stephen Ball, Stacks' attorneys, presented evidence and rested their case after about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. 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. THE BRONX As they rested their case in the "Junior" murder trial Friday, prosecutors turned to the medical examiner who performed the teen's autopsy, offering graphic detail of the wound that. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. 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.. They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. Prosecutors introduced three clips of video. But Morgan Dolan, the lead prosecutor, countered that weapons like knives and machetes kill and the gang members went in knowing that.. Fellow defendant Jose Muniz was heard saying "Trinitarios to the day I die" as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. That isgonna stick with this jury for the rest of the weekend, he says. The defense will have a chance Monday to call witnesses to the stand if they chose. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. 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. Then he walked toward Adams Place, where he sometimes met with friends. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. The night of the murder, my client, Manuel Rivera, wasnt carrying a machete; he wasnt a monster and he never intended to kill Junior. It brought cries for vengeance couched in the Justice for Junior slogan. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. 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George Santos introduced his first bill in Congress, Program provides hearing screenings for immigrant, Vegan doughnut shop shaking things up in Brooklyn, Nonprofit bakery looks for permanent home, How to kill spotted lanternflies before they hatch, Projections show Social Security fund running dry, Zombie drug tranq was in Puerto Rico 10 years ago, Behold, The Coney: First look at proposed BK casino, BK fast-food joint robbed via drive-thru window:, Gunman in hazmat suit shot, killed NYC deli worker:, BK train rider hit by man told not to touch her:, Calls for healthcare covereage of undocumented NYers, How to report no heat in NYC: Resources for tenants, Rising rent in NYC: Heres what tenants need to know, Suicide prevention and mental health resources, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 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. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. Except thats not what happened. Dixons closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Felizs neck which reportedly killed him. Dimas Sanfiorenzo is the Managing Editor for Okayplayer. Eight others are awaiting trial. 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. Now that the prosecution had rested its case, the defense can begin to question witnesses next week, and once that process is done, closing arguments will begin. All rights reserved, Long Island Driver Wanted for Running From Deadly 7-Car Pileup, Upper East Side Deli Killer Clad in Hazmat Suit Likely Serial Robber: Sources, A dozen alleged gang members were indicted July 18, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Flight Attendant Hit the Ceiling': 7 Hospitalized After Severe Turbulence Diverts Flight to Virginia, Fight for NY Casino License Heats Up as Developers Drop Coney Island Boardwalk First Look, Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, The OCME said Wednesday the Bronx teens June 20 death was a stab wound to the neck and classified the death as a homicide, Alleged gang members have been indicted on murder, manslaughter, conspiracy and other charges.