It is unclear if Reyes is in witness protection or has also been released with other gangbanger-turned-witness Kevin Alvarez, 20. We want to know your views on law firm policies and culture. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. Seeing his sons clothing proved too much to bear for Juniors father, Lesandro Guzman, who left the courtroom shortly after Oikawas testimony. That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. Although this position was strenuously argued by defense counsel, the jury ignored it. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. 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. Junior M&A Associate (1-3PQE, English-speaking role), Senior Projects/Projects Finance Lawyer (Korean,5+ PQE), Legal Knowledge Management To Drive Dealmaking, The Global Legal News You Need, When You Need It. 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. Five men approached, including Manuel, weapons in hand. Mr. Reyes said the conflict started when two Sunset members joined the Bad Boys, angering a Sunset member who had gone to prison for a crime the two members had committed. 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. 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. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. At Least Your Colleague Spat Wasnt This Bad: Some things we just dont share with the class. Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. According to . Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. Nils Gerber and Stephen Ball, Stacks' attorneys, presented evidence and rested their case after about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. 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.. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. This Tool Can Help. 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. The vicious murder in June of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz just blocks from his Bronx home drew outrage from across the city and beyond. The night before Lesandro was killed, a large fight had erupted between the gangs, he said. The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. We've received your submission. This Aint One Of Them: Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later. Its 11:37. 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. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! : Enjoy. He felt cool. They're not gonna forget it. 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? READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. 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. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? 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. 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. At least 10 people had been injured in June in a series of street battles. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. 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. Diego Suero leaving the 48th Precinct in the Bronx. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. 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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. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. Also consider other hobbies. 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. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was murdered outside of a Bronx deli in 2019. At the moment I saw his face, my eyes changed. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. 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. THE BRONX He knew they had killed the wrong guy. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. Members of the Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program attending a memorial for Lesandro last year. 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. 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. 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. Our investigation retraces his last steps and reveals how a recent wave of violence took his life just two blocks from home. He believed hed found a place to belong. Then hes dragged from the bodega and brutally stabbed by a swarm of attackers. Lesandro, who had hidden behind the counter, pleaded with the men, saying he was not the person they were looking for. His history was whitewashed. Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. That isgonna stick with this jury for the rest of the weekend, he says. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. 270p. 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. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. If convicted, they face life in prison. Only by addressing these issues might other young men like Junior not be killed, and still others like four of the five defendants in this case, not be condemned to life in prison for the actions of a few seconds done by a fellow gang member which they never intended. 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. 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.. His English was poor. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. . Nine others charged in the killing are awaiting trial. Yes, he put the knife through his neck. But in this case, she couldnt. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. 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. 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. MORE: Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder 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. Except thats not what happened. Police have identified them as: Danel Fernandez, Kevin Alvarez, and Michael Sosa Reyes, who has not been charged in relation to Juniors killing. 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. 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. 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. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The medical examiner testified the wounds on his back and legs were consistent with being dragged. Closing arguments continue in the murder trial of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. Nothing can. The teen wanted to be a police. It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. Crime Scene Unit Det. She detailed the fatal path of the knife through the teens neck, which left a gaping hole on one side and a puncture wound on the other. Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death. There are nine others charged in Guzman's murder that are still awaiting trial. Two of the clips. 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 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. However, all 12 alleged gang members were indicted on second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. 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.. 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. Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. "A bright, beloved, athletic, soon-to . "See what happens with those killers," said Leandra Feliz. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. Had Junior not been stabbed in the neck during the last seconds of the attack, he would have likely walked home barely injured except for abrasions to his body caused by being dragged out of the store and punched. He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. Junior was spotted walking late at night in the Bronx neighborhood frequented by the Sunsets. 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, never-before-seen footage of the savage machete attack, self-proclaimed gang member who testified against the other five alleged Trinitarios members, The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz, 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, After a weeks-long emotional trial with chilling revelations and graphic photos, the jury reached a verdict in the 'Junior' Guzman trial, All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges, One of the defendants was heard saying 'Trinitarios 'till the day I die' as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. Just 20 minutes later, Junior is pronounced dead as a result of a stab wound to the neck. According to police, the drivers spot Junior and taunt him. 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. Anyone can read what you share. Hes been charged with these crimes. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. We dont know. Eight others are awaiting trial. This story has been shared 137,355 times. The store has not opened since last Wednesday when the incident took place. Mistaking him for a member of a rival set, the gang chased the boy, Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, for blocks in the Belmont section of the Bronx, prosecutors said. Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. A post shared by Robert Williams (@areumdawo_saja) on Jun 25, 2018 at 11:00pm PDT. WNBC reported that the . stop killing our brothersThe full story about 15-year old teen junior stabbed to death Justice for. Officers were called to a . She has not been back to court since. Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, 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. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. ", If you have a gun, you shoot, he testified. 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. "The knife made it from the right side to left of Juniors neck, hit the muscle, hit the veinhit the tissue on the back side of the mouth," she said. 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. Passersby try to help. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. : Reach out just to catch up. Five other people have been arrested and accused of involvement in the crime. Guzman-Feliz's mother, Leandra Feliz, wept and screamed at times during the emotional trial.. 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. The friend says they felt things were getting dicey and went inside. 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. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Junior rushes into this bodega just one block from his home. He was a skinny kid, just 120 pounds, 56 inches tall. 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. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. One man, identified by prosecutors as Jose Tavarez, enters the bodega and spots Junior. 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. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. A group of gang members armed with machetes and knives. Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Lets continue to examine why so many youths, particularly from inner cities, are attracted to the brutality of gangs. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. Why do so many buy into a life that restricts their freedom, imposes beatings for disobeying gang rules, and calls for violence to others? 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. Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. 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. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. 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,. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. Hes making more money from Hogwarts: Legacy than her anyway. Mr. Alvarez, Mr. Reyes and a third man went into the store and asked the owner and workers to let them take Lesandro. 2023 Breaking Media, Inc. All rights reserved. We will never sell or share your information without your consent.
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