Warning: Details of Fridays testimony are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some. This story has been shared 137,355 times. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. Our investigation retraces his last steps and reveals how a recent wave of violence took his life just two blocks from home. They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct.
All Five Defendants Found Guilty of Murder in Brutal 'Junior' Guzman 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.. Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. And on the night before Juniors murder, he had witnessed another stabbing at Adams Place. Just after the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz last June 20, members of the Trinitarios were examining a photo of gang . But he acted with intent to harm. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. He felt cool. Video showed the boy being dragged outside the bodega and set upon by a gang of men who hacked at him as he struggled to defend himself. Yesterday lawyers for four of the suspects accused of stabbing 15-year-old . 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. Surveillance footage from June shows a street chase by suspected members of the Trinitarios gang, as they hunted down 15-year-old Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones.
GRAPHIC: Gruesome bodega murder of Junior Guzman caught on camera The murder of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as Junior, drew outrage across New York City. Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? We will never sell or share your information without your consent. We talked to police sources, family members and other witnesses. It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was slashed in the neck with a machete at a bodega in the Bronx on June 19, 2018. Antonio Santiago is seen here from this other angle. There, leaders passed around cellphone pictures of various Sunset members and asked the returning soldiers to identify the person they stabbed. The only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But the owner appears to direct him away. We've received your submission. But some of his friends were, and he had been hanging out with them at Adams Place recently. They pursued him in cars, mistaking the aspiring NYPD detective for a gangbanger because he supposedly resembled a known one. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. On the night of June 20th , he was ordered by a leader nicknamed Psycho to find a Sunset (a rival gang member). New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. The dad struggled to make a living and Manuel struggled in school. This Tool Can Help. Richard Harbus "A Bronx jury found the two leaders guilty for their role in the murder, closing another chapter of. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. 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. Two of the clips. 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. 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 . What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. 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. Henry also told of discovering a five-inch blade inside the passenger seat pocket of suspect Kevins Alvarezs 2003 gray Acura.
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. The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. 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. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. The ADA's argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Junior's neck the medical examiner says killed him. stop killing our brothersThe full story about 15-year old teen junior stabbed to death Justice for. 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. "Today's verdicts will not bring Junior back. 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. 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. Theodore Parisienne for The New York Times.
5 Convicted of Hacking Innocent Teenager 'Junior' Guzman to Death Guzman-Feliz's mother, Leandra Feliz, wept and screamed at times during the emotional trial.. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Nothing can. 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. It is unclear what the jury decided on. Mr. Alvarez testified for the prosecution in return for a lenient sentence. 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. 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. If convicted, they face life in prison. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts.
Lets continue to examine why so many youths, particularly from inner cities, are attracted to the brutality of gangs. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. He was depicted in murals and online with a halo and angel wings. But it was Mr. Martinez Estrella who delivered the fatal blow when he shoved a large knife into the side of Lesandros neck, penetrating 4.5 inches and cutting his jugular vein, a medical examiner testified. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Closing arguments proved to be just as emotional, as some jury members shed tears.
'Junior' trial star witness Kevin Alvarez describes moment - PIX11 At Least Your Colleague Spat Wasnt This Bad: Some things we just dont share with the class. Then, Elvin Garcia, who police say is seen here wearing a mask. In recent months, turf wars have spiked among rival Trinitario factions.
junior guzman Video Full story - Justice for Lesandro Junior Guzman In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. 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. How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices.
GRAPHIC: Medical examiner details Junior's fatal neck wound as Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death. (No one claims responsibility.) Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? 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. 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. Crime Scene Unit Det. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. 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. Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. 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. How do you protect your children from predators? This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. READ: #JusticeForJunior: A Group of Men Fatally Stabbed Bronx Teen With Machete.
5 More Gang Members Plead Guilty in Death of Teen 'Junior' Guzman in Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied.
'Borderline gruesome' autopsy photos among the last pieces of evidence Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. Dimas Sanfiorenzo is the Managing Editor for Okayplayer. 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 mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. The defense team asked Dr. Rodriguez if any of these additional wounds contributed to the teens death. 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. 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. Do not sell my information. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. 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. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. Warning Graphic Video Below. . The night before Lesandro was killed, a large fight had erupted between the gangs, he said. That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. 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. 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 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. Privacy Center | 270p. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. 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. Recommended Stories Deadline. Its alleged that defendant Jonaiki Martinez Estrella plunged the knife into Juniors neck near the end of the 20-second attack. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. The 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Officer Oikawa would later learn. If they did not participate, the lawyers said, they would have been disciplined. Five more gang members pleaded guilty in the brutal machete stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz inside a Bronx bodega in 2018. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. Erica Byfield reports. If you have a machete, use the machete..
Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know Junior killing, one year later: How police, others are fighting gang 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. 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.
Newly released videos show Junior's desperate final moments before 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. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical..
At Least 6 Minors Shot in Chicago in Last 24 Hours The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. 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. Prosecutors previously said the teen succumbed to a neck wound caused by a 4-and-a-half inch knife that severed his jugular vein. Junior was spotted walking late at night in the Bronx neighborhood frequented by the Sunsets.
Five gang members sentenced for killing a 15-year-old with a machete - CNN WPIX reported that theyre charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, gang assault, and conspiracy. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. 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. We want to know your views on law firm policies and culture. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. However, all 12 alleged gang members were indicted on second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. The cars then split up and appear to surround him. New York Police Department . According to prosecutors, Jos Muniz first hacks Junior with a machete. "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 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.
Two gang leaders convicted for 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz murder He leaves and immediately three other men enter. 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.
Since the violent attack, the communitys outpouring of love and support has been seen in a mural. ", "It was a terrible year, it felt like 10 years. 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. WNBC reported that the grisly images brought some of the jurors to tears. Theyre believed to have targeted Guzman-Feliz because they believed he was affiliated with a rival gang responsible for shooting one of their members two days earlier. Officers were called to a . Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. 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. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. : Reach out just to catch up. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. 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.