. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. He leaves and immediately three other men enter. The referrals are a nice bonus too! 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. Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. The vicious murder in June of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz just blocks from his Bronx home drew outrage from across the city and beyond. 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. 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. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. Toni Messina has tried over 100 cases and has been practicing criminal law and immigration since 1990. Then hes dragged from the bodega and brutally stabbed by a swarm of attackers. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . Just after the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz last June 20, members of the Trinitarios were examining a photo of gang . 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. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. 2023 Breaking Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The defense will have a chance Monday to call witnesses to the stand if they chose. Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. 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It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. A teenager hunted down and dragged from a New York City bodega, then swarmed by attackers outside. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. 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. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. Its 11:37. The father of Junior Guzman-Felizthe 15-year-old New York boy whose mistaken-identity murder was caught on tapereportedly screamed and cursed at one of his son's accused killers during a Thursday court hearing which included testimony of what transpired after the teen's stabbing death. Heres How To Get Yours Right. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. A post shared by Robert Williams (@areumdawo_saja) on Jun 25, 2018 at 11:00pm PDT. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. 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. The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, reached the verdict Friday after going into deliberations Thursday. The defense team asked Dr. Rodriguez if any of these additional wounds contributed to the teens death. 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. 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. Except thats not what happened. Find Lesandro stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 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. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. Newly released videos show Junior's desperate final moments before being hacked to death PIX11 News 186K subscribers Subscribe Like Save 3.8M views 4 years ago Show more Show more Notice. 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. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. 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. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. 270p. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. 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. 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. Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. After that, they will lead off summations. 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. Lesandro had bruising, scratches and small puncture wounds on his body, according to autopsy photos. That isgonna stick with this jury for the rest of the weekend, he says. 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. Privacy Center | In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. In recent months, turf wars have spiked among rival Trinitario factions. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". Theodore Parisienne for The New York Times. 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. How do you protect your children from predators? Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. Erica Byfield reports. Surveillance cameras reportedly caught a group of men dragging Guzman-Feliz outside a Bronx bodega before attacking him. But he acted with intent to harm. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. 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. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. 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. 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. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. Do not sell my information. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. 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. Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? 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. 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. According to . Junior gestures for someone to call 911. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. 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. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. Video surveillance showed the men dragging Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz out of a Bronx bodega on his back and stabbing him with long knives and a machete. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. Five other people have been arrested and accused of involvement in the crime. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. (Police were stationed in the street outside court, anticipating a riot should the verdict not have come back as guilty on all counts.). 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 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Officer Oikawa would later learn. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. 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. It is unclear what the jury decided on. 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. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. Prosecutors previously said the teen succumbed to a neck wound caused by a 4-and-a-half inch knife that severed his jugular vein. 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. Content should be organized in different stages, from when potential clients search for initial information to eventually contacting your law firm. Man arrested for stealing fire department truck:, Coincidence prompted Powerball winner to buy ticket, Two women attacked from behind by group: NYPD, Moose on the Loose: Battle to become Yankees shortstop, Pop-up grocery store opens in Greenwich Village, Expert raises awareness about eating disorders, NY Rep. Dan Goldman talks House ethics probe into, What to know about teens and their mental health, Read Across America Day kicks off at NYC bookstore, Womens History Month: Highlighting women in medicine. Knitting, perhaps? The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. Members of the Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program attending a memorial for Lesandro last year. "Justice for Junior" has become a rallying cry. New York Police Department . Five more gang members pleaded guilty in the brutal machete stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz inside a Bronx bodega in 2018. Nine others charged in the killing are awaiting trial. An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior . Fourteen men have been criminally charged in connection with Guzman-Felizs slaying. 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. Is that why Junior was targeted? They attempted to cast blame on Mr. Martinez Estrella for Lesandros death. Since the violent attack, the communitys outpouring of love and support has been seen in a mural. 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. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? 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. 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. READ: #JusticeForJunior: A Group of Men Fatally Stabbed Bronx Teen With Machete. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. As one defense counsel said in his summation, the biggest obstacle in this case for defendants was not the facts, it was the anger and the desire for retribution., The video of the killing was released to social media only hours after Juniors death. Mr. Martinez Estrella, a probationary member, boasted to the others that Lesandro would not eat for a very long time because I hit him in the neck, Mr. Reyes testified. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). The case grabbed the attention of New Yorkers and across the nation, given that the brutal machete killing of the 15-year-old boy that took place inside a Bronx bodega in the summer of 2018 was captured on surveillance. Yes, he put the knife through his neck. The worker again refuses to help. The ADAs argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Juniors neck the medical examiner says killed him. Our investigation retraces Juniors last steps and uncovers new details that may answer why he was targeted. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. And on the night before Juniors murder, he had witnessed another stabbing at Adams Place. Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. 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. 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. Dr. Rodriguez said its possible if pressure was applied to the wound and Junior was brought to the hospital earlier, he could have survived. The cars then split up and appear to surround him. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was murdered outside of a Bronx deli in 2019. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. stop killing our brothersThe full story about 15-year old teen junior stabbed to death Justice for. 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. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Investigators say the group mistook Guzman-Feliz, who was not affiliated with any gang, for a member of the rival fraction of the Trinitarios gang. The federal judiciary is getting more diverse. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. WNBC reported that the . We will never sell or share your information without your consent. They hang out on a stoop close by, chatting and listening to hip-hop, according to Jason. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. 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 is on summer break from school. 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. What Do Millennials Think Of Law Firm Life? Five men approached, including Manuel, weapons in hand. Heres how Lexis Search Advantage | Transactional unites internal and external research to create better deals faster. Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. 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. Prior to deliberations starting, the judge told the jury they could deliberate over the five defendants on trial separately and return individual verdicts or wait to return the verdicts of all five at once. 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. After the attack, the gang returned to Mr. Sueros home on Boston Road, Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes said. 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. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. 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. Junior then walks out of the bodega. They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. Closing arguments proved to be just as emotional, as some jury members shed tears. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity. 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. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. The indicted are due back in court Oct. 25. One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. The panel found all five guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree gang assault. Antonio Santiago is seen here from this other angle. 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. One man, identified by prosecutors as Jose Tavarez, enters the bodega and spots Junior. But the owner appears to direct him away. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. Our investigation retraces his last steps and reveals how a recent wave of violence took his life just two blocks from home. Richard Harbus "A Bronx jury found the two leaders guilty for their role in the murder, closing another chapter of. was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. 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. Officers were called to a . There, leaders passed around cellphone pictures of various Sunset members and asked the returning soldiers to identify the person they stabbed. In the beginning of the video, the teen is seen trying to hide behind the counter. Several of the gang members got out of the cars and surrounded Lesandro, asking him questions. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death.
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