Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? 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. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. "This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like . He gave a coded gang response when asked a question by a Trinitarios gang member driving by. : Enjoy. 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. Junior rushes into this bodega just one block from his home. The boy was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. 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. Our investigation retraces his last steps and reveals how a recent wave of violence took his life just two blocks from home. Antonio Santiago is seen here from this other angle. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. 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. We want to know your views on law firm policies and culture. But in this case, she couldnt. LexisNexis Brief Analysis produces powerful, near-instant legal argumentation insights using the power of AI. She said it cut the bone that protects the spinal cord and left an exit wound on the other side of his neck. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. We will never sell or share your information without your consent. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. All five defendants Antonio Santigo, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera, Estrella and Muniz were members of the Trinitarios gang. 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. Do not sell my information. 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. But the glee I saw in the eyes of spectators at the reading of straight convictions for Murder I was not founded. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. We dont know. The federal judiciary is getting more diverse. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. Mr. Muniz rushed over wielding a machete while Mr. Garcia, Mr. Rivera and Mr. Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago stabbed at him with large knives, security camera video and other evidence showed. Instead, he said, he watched as other Trinitarios members dragged Junior outside and hacked him to death with machetes and knives. It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. 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. They're not gonna forget it. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. [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. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . Its Wednesday, June 20. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. 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. 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. 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. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. After that, they will lead off summations. Passersby try to help. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! The cars then split up and appear to surround him. The friend says he told Junior not to come over because it was late. Five other people have been arrested and accused of involvement in the crime. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. 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 . 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. 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. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. "See what happens with those killers," said Leandra Feliz. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? The vicious murder in June of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz just blocks from his Bronx home drew outrage from across the city and beyond. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Hes been charged with these crimes. That isgonna stick with this jury for the rest of the weekend, he says. Mere days after the trial kicked off startling never-before-seen footage of the savage machete attack was presented by prosecutors. 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. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. 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. He was a skinny kid, just 120 pounds, 56 inches tall. See our privacy policy. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. A street was named after Junior, a scholarship fund, a summer camp. Anyone can read what you share. Also consider other hobbies. The worker again refuses to help. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after LesandroJunior Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. My client, age 18 (and nine months, as the prosecutor liked to remind jurors), had joined a dangerous gang, the Trinitarios, and without the benefit of his mother, left behind in the Dominican Republic, made some very poor decisions that will now land him in jail probably for the rest of his life. 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.". The murder of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as Junior, drew outrage across New York City. 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. 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. She has not been back to court since. His history was whitewashed. Goldberg hammered the medical examiner to get his point across that his client did not cause any physical injury to Junior, because a machete would have resulted in decapitation or mutilation. Recommended Stories Deadline. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. Junior was spotted walking late at night in the Bronx neighborhood frequented by the Sunsets. At the moment I saw his face, my eyes changed. UPDATE! Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. 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. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. 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. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. He did not act with the intent to kill.. In a panic, he tries to hide behind the counter. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death. All of the men charged have pleaded not guilty. 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 Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program attending a memorial for Lesandro last year. Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boys death later his year. THE BRONX He knew they had killed the wrong guy. 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. 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. Maybe these wounds didn't contribute to the death but they certainly contributed to the pain and agony he was suffering, which fulfills the elements of murder in the first degree and as a result they're still guilty, he says. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. 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,. 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 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. According to police, the drivers spot Junior and taunt him. Theodore Parisienne for The New York Times. 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. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. 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. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. 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. 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. At 11:35, a security camera films four cars driving slowly past the stoop where Juniors friend and some others were sitting. Content should be organized in different stages, from when potential clients search for initial information to eventually contacting your law firm. 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. Heres how Lexis Search Advantage | Transactional unites internal and external research to create better deals faster. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. 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. Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. Warning Graphic Video Below. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. Erica Byfield reports. Lesandro had bruising, scratches and small puncture wounds on his body, according to autopsy photos. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. Closing arguments proved to be just as emotional, as some jury members shed tears. They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. The attention this case brings to the heinous nature of gangs is important. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. Then he walked toward Adams Place, where he sometimes met with friends. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. This story has been shared 137,355 times. Only someone in the gang would know the response. Privacy Center | The panel found all five guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree gang assault. 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. Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. 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. Alvarez, who testified last week as a cooperating witness, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in a deal with Bronx prosecutors and is expected to serve no prison time. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). Crime Scene Unit Det. 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. Brown said Janari became the 38th juvenile murdered in gun violence in Chicago in the first seven months of 2020. Hes at home with his mother. They hang out on a stoop close by, chatting and listening to hip-hop, according to Jason. 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.. She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. 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. 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. After Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Fernandez pulled the boy outside, the others attacked. Officers were called to a . 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. We talked to police sources, family members and other witnesses. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. Then, Elvin Garcia, who police say is seen here wearing a mask. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. But Morgan Dolan, the lead prosecutor, countered that weapons like knives and machetes kill and the gang members went in knowing that.. When the attackers walk in, the worker points out where Junior is hiding, and he gets dragged outof the store. 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. 270p. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. 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. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. "A bright, beloved, athletic, soon-to . The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. Just after the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz last June 20, members of the Trinitarios were examining a photo of gang . The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. On the night of June 20th , he was ordered by a leader nicknamed Psycho to find a Sunset (a rival gang member). People visit murder site to mourn the death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz in Bronx in New York, United States on June 27, 2018. . As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. 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. 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.