They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. All Five Defendants Found Guilty of Murder in Brutal 'Junior' Guzman The defense team asked Dr. Rodriguez if any of these additional wounds contributed to the teens death. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. WNBC reported that the . : Enjoy. 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. "Today's verdicts will not bring Junior back. In the video, we see the 15 . After that, they will lead off summations. Recommended Stories Deadline. Members of the Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program attending a memorial for Lesandro last year. They're not gonna forget it. 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. 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. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. Content should be organized in different stages, from when potential clients search for initial information to eventually contacting your law firm. 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. 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. Ultimately, he was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after LesandroJunior Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. 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. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. 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. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. Then, Elvin Garcia, who police say is seen here wearing a mask. There, leaders passed around cellphone pictures of various Sunset members and asked the returning soldiers to identify the person they stabbed. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. Officers were called to a . 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 . On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. There were gasps from the courtroom as Assistant District Attorney Morgan Dolan presented the graphic photos of Juniors wounds during the testimony of the prosecutions final witness. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? It led to a clearer morality tale. 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. Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro was not in the photos. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. 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. Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. The murder was just as horrific. Privacy Center | At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Junior is on summer break from school. They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. 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. 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. 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. 38 Juveniles Killed in Gun Violence in Chicago So Far This Year: Police Mr. Alvarez testified for the prosecution in return for a lenient sentence. : Reach out just to catch up. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. According to police, the drivers spot Junior and taunt him. 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. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. (No one claims responsibility.) 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. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz case: Five guilty of murder in mistaken 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. 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. 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 made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. He gave a coded gang response when asked a question by a Trinitarios gang member driving by. The store owner unlocked a door leading to the area where Lesandro was hiding, Mr. Alvarez said, and told them to take the fight outside. But at the end, it has a happy ending," said Manny Ortiz. 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. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. The defense will have a chance Monday to call witnesses to the stand if they chose. 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. 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. Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. This Aint One Of Them: Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. Brown said Janari became the 38th juvenile murdered in gun violence in Chicago in the first seven months of 2020. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. Heres How To Get Yours Right. But in this case, she couldnt. It is unclear if Reyes is in witness protection or has also been released with other gangbanger-turned-witness Kevin Alvarez, 20. 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. Henry also told of discovering a five-inch blade inside the passenger seat pocket of suspect Kevins Alvarezs 2003 gray Acura. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. Five more gang members pleaded guilty in the brutal machete stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz inside a Bronx bodega in 2018. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. But the glee I saw in the eyes of spectators at the reading of straight convictions for Murder I was not founded. 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 New York Post ran a front-page headline in bold caps,. 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. Its 11:37. He did not act with the intent to kill.. 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. 'Justice for Junior': Slain teen memorialized by murals - AmNewYork UPDATE! The murder of Lesandro rattled the city, prompting outrage on social media and calls for justice from elected officials and celebrities, including the rapper Cardi B and the Yankees pitcher C.C. The dad struggled to make a living and Manuel struggled in school. Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. Also consider other hobbies. Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. Nils Gerber and Stephen Ball, Stacks' attorneys, presented evidence and rested their case after about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? (Police were stationed in the street outside court, anticipating a riot should the verdict not have come back as guilty on all counts.). Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year. "If they continue the violence in the city, theyre going to get the same thing. One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. 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. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. ", If you have a gun, you shoot, he testified. 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. 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. His history was whitewashed. They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. 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. Richard Harbus "A Bronx jury found the two leaders guilty for their role in the murder, closing another chapter of. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. "Justice for Junior" has become a rallying cry. After the attack, the gang returned to Mr. Sueros home on Boston Road, Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes said. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. Its 11:39. The federal judiciary is getting more diverse. 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. GRAPHIC: CCTV and bystanders filming with their phones captured the gruesome Bronx bodega machete stabbing murder of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman by Trinitarios gang members. 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. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. Five men approached, including Manuel, weapons in hand. 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. Warning Graphic Video Below. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. *WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT* Lesandro "JUNIOR"Guzman Feliz STAB - YouTube If you have a knife, you stab. 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. 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. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. On Monday, City Council members Ritchie Torres, Vanessa Gibson, and Rafael Salamanca wrote a letter to Department of Consumer Affairs asking that the bodega be shut down. 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. But some of his friends were, and he had been hanging out with them at Adams Place recently. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. At 11:35, a security camera films four cars driving slowly past the stoop where Juniors friend and some others were sitting.