They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. If you have a machete, use the machete.. 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. See our privacy policy. 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. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon Antonio Santiago is seen here from this other angle. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. WNBC reported that the . Because he resisted their efforts to stab him does not diminish their intent.. But Morgan Dolan, the lead prosecutor, countered that weapons like knives and machetes kill and the gang members went in knowing that.. We will never sell or share your information without your consent. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who went by the nickname Junior, was a member of the Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program before he was killed last year. But some of the most powerful evidence came from two gang members involved in the attack who testified for the prosecution in return for lenient sentences: Kevin Alvarez, 20, and Michael Reyes, 20. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. The friend says they felt things were getting dicey and went inside. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. A dozen people appeared in court facing charges related to the death of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who was killed in the Bronx. 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. 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. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. The indicted are due back in court Oct. 25. There are nine others charged in Guzman's murder that are still awaiting trial. Fellow defendant Jose Muniz was heard saying "Trinitarios to the day I die" as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. After Junior was stabbed outside the Bronx bodega, he is seen in surveillance video clutching his neck and attempting to run to the nearby hospital, where he eventually collapsed on a sidewalk and bled to death. 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. We talked to police sources, family members and other witnesses. Guzman-Felizs memory has also been honored through the renaming of a street and a summer camp at a state park, as well as prompting the Safe Haven Bodega program in the city. 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. 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. New York Police Department . 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. Nine others charged in the killing are awaiting trial. That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year. Hes at home with his mother. Its Wednesday, June 20. Select from premium Lesandro of the highest quality. When the attackers walk in, the worker points out where Junior is hiding, and he gets dragged outof the store. 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. It brought cries for vengeance couched in the Justice for Junior slogan. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Instead, he said, he watched as other Trinitarios members dragged Junior outside and hacked him to death with machetes and knives. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. 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. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The convicted killers will be sentenced Tuesday, July 16. Junior was spotted walking late at night in the Bronx neighborhood frequented by the Sunsets. Then he walked toward Adams Place, where he sometimes met with friends. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. Two of the clips. 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.". Also consider other hobbies. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. 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. Mr. Alvarez testified for the prosecution in return for a lenient sentence. 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? Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. He did not act with the intent to kill.. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. 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. But at the end, it has a happy ending," said Manny Ortiz. 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. 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. 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. Eight others are awaiting trial. 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. 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. 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. This Aint One Of Them: Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. Oiwaka 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. Continuing coverage on the trial can be read here. Frederick Then is the 14th person to be arrested in connection with the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz in the Bronx last June. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. Mr. Suero had warned his members to carry a weapon at all times and said if they saw a rival member to do whatever possible to hurt the Sunset member, Mr. Alvarez said. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! The only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. 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, never-before-seen footage of the savage machete attack, self-proclaimed gang member who testified against the other five alleged Trinitarios members, The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz, 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, After a weeks-long emotional trial with chilling revelations and graphic photos, the jury reached a verdict in the 'Junior' Guzman trial, All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges, One of the defendants was heard saying 'Trinitarios 'till the day I die' as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the murder conviction. 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. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. READ: #JusticeForJunior: A Group of Men Fatally Stabbed Bronx Teen With Machete. 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.. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. Junior and the bodega owner appear to have an exchange with Kevin Alvarez before Junior is grabbed and beaten on the ground. At the moment I saw his face, my eyes changed. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. The 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Officer Oikawa would later learn. Members of the NYPD Junior league attend Lesandro Guzman-Feliz's funeral cerenomy at Our . 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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. Lesandro, who had hidden behind the counter, pleaded with the men, saying he was not the person they were looking for. This 15-year-old boy, in the moments before his death, fought and fought like hell, Dolan said, according to the New York Daily News. 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. Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. Sabathia. He was then stabbed and hacked to death with machetes by several attackers after being mistakenly identified. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. 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.. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. "I saw a smile on my mothers face really, really excited.". Surveillance cameras reportedly caught a group of men dragging Guzman-Feliz outside a Bronx bodega before attacking him. 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. Following that, no amount of logic, analysis, or pleas for reason could convince jurors to set aside their emotions. Since the violent attack, the communitys outpouring of love and support has been seen in a mural. Its 11:39. All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges. "A bright, beloved, athletic, soon-to . 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. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. If you have a knife, you stab. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. 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. It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. 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. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. 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. Its alleged that defendant Jonaiki Martinez Estrella plunged the knife into Juniors neck near the end of the 20-second attack. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. I didnt see the person who had just finished getting stabbed there, Mr. Alvarez said, choking back tears. 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. But its too late. 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 comes back to the store bloodied. She has not been back to court since. THE BRONX He knew they had killed the wrong guy. (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. Hes been charged with these crimes. Except thats not what happened. Knitting, perhaps? 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. According to prosecutors, Jos Muniz first hacks Junior with a machete. The cars then split up and appear to surround him. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. But a leading police theory is the attackers mistakenly believed Junior was in a rival gang. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. . 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.. Prosecutors previously said the teen succumbed to a neck wound caused by a 4-and-a-half inch knife that severed his jugular vein. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. 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. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior . 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. Maybe these wounds didn't contribute to the death but they certainly contributed to the pain and agony he was suffering, which fulfills the elements of murder in the first degree and as a result they're still guilty, he says. The worker again refuses to help. Fourteen men have been criminally charged in connection with Guzman-Felizs slaying. Junior stumbles back into the bodega, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. The medical examiner testified the wounds on his back and legs were consistent with being dragged. Lets continue to examine why so many youths, particularly from inner cities, are attracted to the brutality of gangs. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. 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. 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. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. What Do Millennials Think Of Law Firm Life? 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. 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. 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. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. 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. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . 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. 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. 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