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. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz case: Five guilty of murder in mistaken 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. 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. We want to know your views on law firm policies and culture. . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. Closing Aguments In 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz Murder Trial Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. What Do Millennials Think Of Law Firm Life? Also consider other hobbies. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. Then hes dragged from the bodega and brutally stabbed by a swarm of attackers. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones. 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. Privacy Center | 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 teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. This Tool Can Help. He did not act with the intent to kill.. He specializes, New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after. 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. Prosecution rests in Junior case after showing graphic autopsy photo They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. But Reyes told the court that he couldnt follow through with Sueros order after looking Junior in the face. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. At 11:35, a security camera films four cars driving slowly past the stoop where Juniors friend and some others were sitting. 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. Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. Guzman-Feliz's mother, Leandra Feliz, wept and screamed at times during the emotional trial.. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. 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. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. *WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT* Lesandro "JUNIOR"Guzman Feliz STAB - YouTube They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. Junior then walks out of the bodega. At Least 6 Minors Shot in Chicago in Last 24 Hours 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. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. Closing arguments proved to be just as emotional, as some jury members shed tears. Members of the Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program attending a memorial for Lesandro last year. "If they continue the violence in the city, theyre going to get the same thing. 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. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. Following the lengthy opening statements from the prosecution and defense attorneys for the five suspected gang members, the first of 14 to stand trial, the first witness took the stand. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. Anyone can read what you share. 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.. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. Closing arguments continue in the murder trial of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. In the beginning of the video, the teen is seen trying to hide behind the counter. Five men approached, including Manuel, weapons in hand. Lesandro had bruising, scratches and small puncture wounds on his body, according to autopsy photos. This Aint One Of Them: Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later. "See what happens with those killers," said Leandra Feliz. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. GRAPHIC: CCTV and bystanders filming with their phones captured the gruesome Bronx bodega machete stabbing murder of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman by Trinitarios gang members. Machete killing of Bronx teen in case of mistaken identity leads to Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. 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. Some Trinitarios took orders from Mr. Suero, whom they called Santa Claus, according to Mr. Alvarez and Michael Reyes, who also testified for the prosecution. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. Lesandro, who had hidden behind the counter, pleaded with the men, saying he was not the person they were looking for. #justiceforjunior #ripjunior ALL THAT MUST STOP . It is unclear if Reyes is in witness protection or has also been released with other gangbanger-turned-witness Kevin Alvarez, 20. 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz 'fought like hell' as machete-wielding gang Fourteen men have been criminally charged in connection with Guzman-Felizs slaying. 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. Forsyth County prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. The friend says he told Junior not to come over because it was late. The 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Officer Oikawa would later learn. Crime, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Gangs, Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz, Manuel Rivera, Murder, Toni Messina. Celebrities react to tragic murder of 15-year-old in the Bronx Yes, he put the knife through his neck. Eight others are awaiting trial. Police have identified them as: Danel Fernandez, Kevin Alvarez, and Michael Sosa Reyes, who has not been charged in relation to Juniors killing. But the owner appears to direct him away. Toni Messina has tried over 100 cases and has been practicing criminal law and immigration since 1990. 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. 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? 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. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. 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. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. A street was named after Junior, a scholarship fund, a summer camp. The teen wanted to be a police. Criminal defense attorney Chris Carrion has been observing the trial from the start. Since the violent attack, the communitys outpouring of love and support has been seen in a mural. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon 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. 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. What could be put in place in their neighborhoods to substitute the pull of the gang? WNBC reported that the grisly images brought some of the jurors to tears. 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. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. In recent months, turf wars have spiked among rival Trinitario factions. That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year. LexisNexis Brief Analysis produces powerful, near-instant legal argumentation insights using the power of AI. He makes it to the entrance of the hospital before collapsing. He leaves and immediately three other men enter. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. Manuel enjoyed the Trinitarios parties, the hookah, the beads, the hand signs, the comradery, and fact that they had his back. 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. 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. Two gang leaders convicted for 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz murder 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.". dragged him from the store and stabbed him to death. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. GRAPHIC: Gruesome bodega murder of Junior Guzman caught on camera New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after LesandroJunior Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. 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. 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. He was walking toward Adams Place, a small street about five minutes away thats known for gang activity. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. Prosecutors previously said the teen succumbed to a neck wound caused by a 4-and-a-half inch knife that severed his jugular vein. Heres how Lexis Search Advantage | Transactional unites internal and external research to create better deals faster. Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. Knitting, perhaps? 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. 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. WPIX reported that theyre charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, gang assault, and conspiracy. The ADAs argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Juniors neck the medical examiner says killed him. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . Five more gang members pleaded guilty in the brutal machete stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz inside a Bronx bodega in 2018. They're not gonna forget it. It is unclear what the jury decided on. Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. Its 11:39. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! [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. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. He was then stabbed and hacked to death with machetes by several attackers after being mistakenly identified. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. UPDATE! This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. If they did not participate, the lawyers said, they would have been disciplined. 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. Our investigation retraces Juniors last steps and uncovers new details that may answer why he was targeted. All of the men charged have pleaded not guilty. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death. All Five Defendants Found Guilty of Murder in Brutal 'Junior' Guzman This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. The worker again refuses to help. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. After that, they will lead off summations. 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. 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. 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.. 'Justice for Junior': Slain teen memorialized by murals - AmNewYork 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. 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. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). 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. Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. 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. Nearly a year after Lesandro was killed, a jury found five of the men guilty of murder and related charges on Friday, capping five weeks of testimony that provided a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Trinitarios, a highly organized and brutally violent Dominican gang. All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges. 'Junior' trial star witness Kevin Alvarez describes moment - PIX11 One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. He gave a coded gang response when asked a question by a Trinitarios gang member driving by. I Represented A Monster -- Except He Really Wasn't - Above the Law 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. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. Except thats not what happened. "A bright, beloved, athletic, soon-to . Seeing his sons clothing proved too much to bear for Juniors father, Lesandro Guzman, who left the courtroom shortly after Oikawas testimony. Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. Hes been charged with these crimes. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. According to police, the drivers spot Junior and taunt him. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. 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 attempted to cast blame on Mr. Martinez Estrella for Lesandros death. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. He felt cool. A New York prosecutor detailed how hard a 15-year-old tried to fight off a group of accused gang members as they allegedly stabbed him to death in front of a bodega last summer. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was slashed in the neck with a machete at a bodega in the Bronx on June 19, 2018. Junior rushes into this bodega just one block from his home. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. They gathered outside of Mr. Sueros apartment building on Boston Road, where they smoked hookah and played music. A jury began deliberating Thursday on the five mens fates. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! But the glee I saw in the eyes of spectators at the reading of straight convictions for Murder I was not founded. They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. Just 20 minutes later, Junior is pronounced dead as a result of a stab wound to the neck. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . Gasps, Tears as Never-Before-Seen Video of Attack - NBC New York They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct. 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.. Sabathia. The boy was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. But Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro clearly told the gang he wasnt Sunset. Police officials also have said Lesandro did not belong to a gang. 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. The night of the murder, my client, Manuel Rivera, wasnt carrying a machete; he wasnt a monster and he never intended to kill Junior. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. They are under investigation for failing to help. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. Rangers trade Kravtsov, waive Leschyshyn, Giants, Jets fans among most passionate in NFL: report, Mets Cohen cautions spending doesnt mean title, Moose on the Loose: Beltran joins Mets front office, Working to improve health care for all New Yorkers, Refresh your February with some finds from Josh McBride, New Cornell University research reveals pistachios, Patrn Perfect Pineapple Margarita plus a chance, Supercharged Entertainment Edison NJ is the place, Beauty and fashion time saver tips that can be done, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, Activist killed in police-involved shooting, Rep. 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. Only someone in the gang would know the response. But a leading police theory is the attackers mistakenly believed Junior was in a rival gang. An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior . Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. When Junior ran, the group gave chase. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was murdered outside of a Bronx deli in 2019. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. Junior stumbles back into the bodega, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. The ADA's argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Junior's neck the medical examiner says killed him. Also consider other hobbies. 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. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. I dont want to see it again. THE BRONX As they rested their case in the Junior murder trial Friday, prosecutors turned to the medical examiner who performed the teens autopsy, offering graphic detail of the wound that killed the 15-year-old almost a year ago. 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. MORE: Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? However, four defense attorneys contested this notion, describing during opening statements that most of Guzman-Feliz's wounds as superficial and said it was the one cut to the throat that killed him. Medical Examiner Reveals Findings in Machete Death of 15-Year-Old NYC ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. THE BRONX He knew they had killed the wrong guy. 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. Junior is on summer break from school. 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 . 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.

Lacrosse Prospect Camps 2022, Love's Rewards Add Receipt, Shrek 2 Spanish Cast, Mila From Danny Duncan, Articles J