Dixons closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Felizs neck which reportedly killed him. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. Instead, he said, he watched as other Trinitarios members dragged Junior outside and hacked him to death with machetes and knives. All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. In recent months, turf wars have spiked among rival Trinitario factions. Junior and the bodega owner appear to have an exchange with Kevin Alvarez before Junior is grabbed and beaten on the ground. He did not act with the intent to kill.. 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. Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. "Today's verdicts will not bring Junior back. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied. 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. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. The night of the murder, my client, Manuel Rivera, wasnt carrying a machete; he wasnt a monster and he never intended to kill Junior. 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 gun, you shoot, he testified. The friend says he told Junior not to come over because it was late. A group of gang members armed with machetes and knives. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. We will never sell or share your information without your consent. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. A post shared by Robert Williams (@areumdawo_saja) on Jun 25, 2018 at 11:00pm PDT. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. The ADA's argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Junior's neck the medical examiner says killed him. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. Heres How To Get Yours Right. 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. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. 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. Ultimately, he was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. 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. At the moment I saw his face, my eyes changed. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. Junior rushes into this bodega just one block from his home. The convicted killers will be sentenced Tuesday, July 16. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. He makes it to the entrance of the hospital before collapsing. 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. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. Our investigation retraces Juniors last steps and uncovers new details that may answer why he was targeted. Knitting, perhaps? 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. The teen wanted to be a police. Video showed the boy being dragged outside the bodega and set upon by a gang of men who hacked at him as he struggled to defend himself. That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro was not in the photos. 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. Amazingly, a customer is seen purchasing an item over Juniors blood. 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. They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. 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. Guzman-Feliz's mother, Leandra Feliz, wept and screamed at times during the emotional trial.. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. He specializes, New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after. But Morgan Dolan, the lead prosecutor, countered that weapons like knives and machetes kill and the gang members went in knowing that.. 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. 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. . Nils Gerber and Stephen Ball, Stacks' attorneys, presented evidence and rested their case after about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. 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. The vicious murder in June of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz just blocks from his Bronx home drew outrage from across the city and beyond. The New York Post ran a front-page headline in bold caps,. Since the violent attack, the communitys outpouring of love and support has been seen in a mural. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. The store has not opened since last Wednesday when the incident took place. 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. Just 20 minutes later, Junior is pronounced dead as a result of a stab wound to the neck. At 11:35, a security camera films four cars driving slowly past the stoop where Juniors friend and some others were sitting. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. They hang out on a stoop close by, chatting and listening to hip-hop, according to Jason. Junior was spotted walking late at night in the Bronx neighborhood frequented by the Sunsets. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Just after the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz last June 20, members of the Trinitarios were examining a photo of gang . Brown said Janari became the 38th juvenile murdered in gun violence in Chicago in the first seven months of 2020. The media ran with the narrative, promoted by the prosecution and the family of the deceased, that the 15-year-old was killed in a case of mistaken identification by gangbangers, viciously stabbed by all of them and killed, Caesar-like, from the cuts of many wounds. Five more gang members pleaded guilty in the brutal machete stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz inside a Bronx bodega in 2018. He gave a coded gang response when asked a question by a Trinitarios gang member driving by. 2023 Breaking Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! Eight others are awaiting trial. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. Warning: Details of Fridays testimony are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some. She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. And on the night before Juniors murder, he had witnessed another stabbing at Adams Place. 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. READ: #JusticeForJunior: A Group of Men Fatally Stabbed Bronx Teen With Machete. The dad struggled to make a living and Manuel struggled in school. Members of the Trinitarios gang were hunting for enemies in the Bronx last summer when they found a 15-year-old boy on his phone and walking alone. Junior M&A Associate (1-3PQE, English-speaking role), Senior Projects/Projects Finance Lawyer (Korean,5+ PQE), Legal Knowledge Management To Drive Dealmaking, The Global Legal News You Need, When You Need It. During the cops testimony, a white t-shirt completely saturated in the boys blood as well as blood-soaked boxers, a sock, and a blue zip-up sweatshirt designed with stars and stripes were shown to jurors. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? They pursued him in cars, mistaking the aspiring NYPD detective for a gangbanger because he supposedly resembled a known one. Hes at home with his mother. Theodore Parisienne for The New York Times. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones. Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. The medical examiner testified the wounds on his back and legs were consistent with being dragged. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. It is unclear what the jury decided on. 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 only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity. 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. Manuel enjoyed the Trinitarios parties, the hookah, the beads, the hand signs, the comradery, and fact that they had his back. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. When Junior ran, the group gave chase. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. 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. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. 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. He felt cool. 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. LexisNexis Brief Analysis produces powerful, near-instant legal argumentation insights using the power of AI. How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. Forsyth County prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning. Five other people have been arrested and accused of involvement in the crime. Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, the Bronx district attorney, Darcel D. Clark, said. It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. I didnt see the person who had just finished getting stabbed there, Mr. Alvarez said, choking back tears. Crime, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Gangs, Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz, Manuel Rivera, Murder, Toni Messina. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. 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. 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.
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