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. In recent months, turf wars have spiked among rival Trinitario factions. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. They pursued him in cars, mistaking the aspiring NYPD detective for a gangbanger because he supposedly resembled a known one. The store has not opened since last Wednesday when the incident took place. Criminal defense attorney Chris Carrion has been observing the trial from the start. 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. That isgonna stick with this jury for the rest of the weekend, he says. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was murdered outside of a Bronx deli in 2019. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. But the owner appears to direct him away. 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. 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 . 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. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. 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. At 11:35, a security camera films four cars driving slowly past the stoop where Juniors friend and some others were sitting. WNBC reported that the grisly images brought some of the jurors to tears. : Reach out just to catch up. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Its horrific, defense attorney Kyle Watters said of his client, Estrella. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. [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. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. 270p. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. Its 11:37. 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. A bottle of hate had been uncorked and there was no way to close it. On the night of June 20th , he was ordered by a leader nicknamed Psycho to find a Sunset (a rival gang member). The men, traveling in four cars, spotted Lesandro, and one of them shouted a Trinitarios greeting at him: Sunset, Popo, then 1090, which was a password Los Sures used to identify Sunset members, Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes said. Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? Seeing his sons clothing proved too much to bear for Juniors father, Lesandro Guzman, who left the courtroom shortly after Oikawas testimony. When Junior ran, the group gave chase. "Justice for Junior" has become a rallying cry. However, all 12 alleged gang members were indicted on second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. 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. 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. One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones. Only someone in the gang would know the response. 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. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . 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The panel found all five guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree gang assault. 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. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. Is that why Junior was targeted? We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. A street was named after Junior, a scholarship fund, a summer camp. ", "It was a terrible year, it felt like 10 years. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. Police have identified them as: Danel Fernandez, Kevin Alvarez, and Michael Sosa Reyes, who has not been charged in relation to Juniors killing. 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. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? New York Police Department . Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. If they did not participate, the lawyers said, they would have been disciplined. 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. Warning: Details of Fridays testimony are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some. Its 11:39. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. Our investigation retraces his last steps and reveals how a recent wave of violence took his life just two blocks from home. "Today's verdicts will not bring Junior back. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Find Lesandro stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. 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. There are nine others charged in Guzman's murder that are still awaiting trial. (Obtained by NY Daily News). The federal judiciary is getting more diverse. Guzman-Feliz's death sparked outrage in the Bronx and beyond and spurred the allocation of $18 million toward gang prevention in the borough. 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.. 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. Frederick Then is the 14th person to be arrested in connection with the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz in the Bronx last June. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict any kind of damage they could on rivals just three days before the murder of innocent teen Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz, according to court testimony Friday. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. 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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. Dr. Rodriguez said its possible if pressure was applied to the wound and Junior was brought to the hospital earlier, he could have survived. 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. Junior is on summer break from school. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. 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. If you have a knife, you stab. If you have a machete, use the machete.. 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. Five more gang members pleaded guilty in the brutal machete stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz inside a Bronx bodega in 2018. 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. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. 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. This 15-year-old boy, in the moments before his death, fought and fought like hell, Dolan said, according to the New York Daily News. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. All of the men charged have pleaded not guilty. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. All five defendants Antonio Santigo, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera, Estrella and Muniz were members of the Trinitarios gang. But what the autopsy report meticulously documented was that Junior suffered minor physical injury, superficial wounds, no bigger than a lentil, except for a large wound to his neck. Officers were called to a . Antonio Santiago is seen here from this other angle. Passersby try to help. 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. Some Work Things Are Optional. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. 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. What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. 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. 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. Mr. Alvarez, Mr. Reyes and a third man went into the store and asked the owner and workers to let them take Lesandro. Prosecutors previously said the teen succumbed to a neck wound caused by a 4-and-a-half inch knife that severed his jugular vein. He specializes, New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after. The murder of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as Junior, drew outrage across New York City. A jury began deliberating Thursday on the five mens fates. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. 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. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. 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. 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. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. This story has been shared 137,355 times. 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. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. The boy was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. Knitting, perhaps? 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. 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. MORE: Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. 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. Dimas Sanfiorenzo is the Managing Editor for Okayplayer. He leaves and immediately three other men enter. 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. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. 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. Instead, he said, he watched as other Trinitarios members dragged Junior outside and hacked him to death with machetes and knives. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. The friend says they felt things were getting dicey and went inside. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. 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. 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. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. 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. In the video, we see the 15 . Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? 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 boy's murder trial Thursday,. Junior and the bodega owner appear to have an exchange with Kevin Alvarez before Junior is grabbed and beaten on the ground. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. But in this case, she couldnt. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. Prosecutors introduced three clips of video. The attention this case brings to the heinous nature of gangs is important. . He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. In a panic, he tries to hide behind the counter. 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. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. But he acted with intent to harm. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. This Tool Can Help. I didnt see the person who had just finished getting stabbed there, Mr. Alvarez said, choking back tears. How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. Anyone can read what you share. 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.. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. 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. But its too late. After Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Fernandez pulled the boy outside, the others attacked. The referrals are a nice bonus too! Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. 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. The incident revealed the barbaric tactics of a gang called the Trinitarios, and it laid bare a glaring paradox: Amid historically low crime rates in New York, police are still struggling to contain brutal violence in some neighborhoods. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied. 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. Crime Scene Unit Det. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. Its Wednesday, June 20. 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. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. 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? Warning Graphic Video Below. 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. Just 20 minutes later, Junior is pronounced dead as a result of a stab wound to the neck. Also consider other hobbies. 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. 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. (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). The second day of trial in the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was emotional and filled with graphic video and photos. The defense team asked Dr. Rodriguez if any of these additional wounds contributed to the teens death. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. 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. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. 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.