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. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to 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. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know 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. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence., Lesandros mother, Leandra Feliz said, Im not going to have my son back, but those killers, those murderers, theyre not going to be outside killing another kid.. They attempted to cast blame on Mr. Martinez Estrella for Lesandros death. If they did not participate, the lawyers said, they would have been disciplined. 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. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. Fourteen men have been criminally charged in connection with Guzman-Felizs slaying. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. 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. Warning: Details of Fridays testimony are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some. Amazingly, a customer is seen purchasing an item over Juniors blood. All of the men charged have pleaded not guilty. Defense lawyers for the four other defendants said in their closing arguments that the order from Mr. Suero had only been to injure a Sunset member, not to kill someone. 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. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. Chicago-Area 2-Year-Old Critical After Shooting Self in Head The cars then split up and appear to surround him. On the night of June 20th , he was ordered by a leader nicknamed Psycho to find a Sunset (a rival gang member). : Reach out just to catch up. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. Eight others are awaiting trial. 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. That isgonna stick with this jury for the rest of the weekend, he says. But the owner appears to direct him away. 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. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. 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. Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. 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. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. 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. 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. See our privacy policy. Mr. Alvarez testified for the prosecution in return for a lenient sentence. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. Gasps, Tears as Never-Before-Seen Video of Attack - NBC New York Surveillance cameras reportedly caught a group of men dragging Guzman-Feliz outside a Bronx bodega before attacking him. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? A bottle of hate had been uncorked and there was no way to close it. Hes been charged with these crimes. Its 11:37. A post shared by Robert Williams (@areumdawo_saja) on Jun 25, 2018 at 11:00pm PDT. The convicted killers will be sentenced Tuesday, July 16. All five defendants Antonio Santigo, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera, Estrella and Muniz were members of the Trinitarios gang. Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. 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. Knitting, perhaps? 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? We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? When the attackers walk in, the worker points out where Junior is hiding, and he gets dragged outof the store. 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. 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 . "Today's verdicts will not bring Junior back. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. The teen wanted to be a police. Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. We want to know your views on law firm policies and culture. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. His English was poor. 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. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. In the beginning of the video, the teen is seen trying to hide behind the counter. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied. Crime, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Gangs, Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz, Manuel Rivera, Murder, Toni Messina. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. 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. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. 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. 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. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. There are nine others charged in Guzman's murder that are still awaiting trial. Except thats not what happened. 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. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. However, all 12 alleged gang members were indicted on second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He felt cool. Henry also told of discovering a five-inch blade inside the passenger seat pocket of suspect Kevins Alvarezs 2003 gray Acura. She said the jugular wound caused him to lose a lot of blood, but blood rushed out more quickly because no one applied pressure and he ran to the hospital.