After the verdict, Mr. Muniz showed no remorse and shouted, Popote, hasta la muerte! slang for Trinitarios until death.. The murder was just as horrific. A group of gang members armed with machetes and knives. After the attack, the gang returned to Mr. Sueros home on Boston Road, Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes said. 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. "I saw a smile on my mothers face really, really excited.". 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. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . In the beginning of the video, the teen is seen trying to hide behind the counter. 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. At 11:35, a security camera films four cars driving slowly past the stoop where Juniors friend and some others were sitting. 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. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. THE BRONX He knew they had killed the wrong guy. Knitting, perhaps? Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. 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. Surveillance cameras reportedly caught a group of men dragging Guzman-Feliz outside a Bronx bodega before attacking 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. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. The second day of trial in the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was emotional and filled with graphic video and photos. He did not act with the intent to kill.. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. Hes at home with his mother. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. 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. 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. 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. 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. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. New York Police Department . A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. . 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. 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. Nine others charged in the killing are awaiting trial. Prosecutors introduced three clips of video. Only someone in the gang would know the response. 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. People visit murder site to mourn the death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz in Bronx in New York, United States on June 27, 2018. . It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. A teenager hunted down and dragged from a New York City bodega, then swarmed by attackers outside. 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. 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. What Do Millennials Think Of Law Firm Life? 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Guzman-Feliz for a rival when they stabbed him to death, Last defendant convicted in 2018 killing of Bronx teen Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz, 5 gang members plead guilty to killing of Bronx teen, 16 members of violent Trinitarios gang charged with high-end NYC robberies in sweeping indictment, Two gang leaders convicted in murder of Junior Guzman-Feliz, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members, Juniors mom at one point screaming and sobbing in court. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. Manuel enjoyed the Trinitarios parties, the hookah, the beads, the hand signs, the comradery, and fact that they had his back. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. The night before Lesandro was killed, a large fight had erupted between the gangs, he 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. Officers were called to a . MORE: Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder THE BRONX As they rested their case in the "Junior" murder trial Friday, prosecutors turned to the medical examiner who performed the teen's autopsy, offering graphic detail of the wound that. The dad struggled to make a living and Manuel struggled in school. A bottle of hate had been uncorked and there was no way to close it. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. The only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The ADA's argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Junior's neck the medical examiner says killed him. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. 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. When Junior ran, the group gave chase. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. He was walking toward Adams Place, a small street about five minutes away thats known for gang activity. Junior stumbles back into the bodega, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. Several of the gang members got out of the cars and surrounded Lesandro, asking him questions. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. Sabathia. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. We dont know. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. What could be put in place in their neighborhoods to substitute the pull of the gang? They're not gonna forget it. Mr. Alvarez testified for the prosecution in return for a lenient sentence. "A bright, beloved, athletic, soon-to . We will never sell or share your information without your consent. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). "Today's verdicts will not bring Junior back. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. 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. 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. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon Our investigation retraces Juniors last steps and uncovers new details that may answer why he was targeted. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. 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.. 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. 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. 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. Brown said Janari became the 38th juvenile murdered in gun violence in Chicago in the first seven months of 2020. He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. 270p. A street was named after Junior, a scholarship fund, a summer camp. (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. The worker again refuses to help. Junior was spotted walking late at night in the Bronx neighborhood frequented by the Sunsets. 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. See our privacy policy. Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. Do not sell my information. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence, "Today Junior's family, and in fact our entire city, has received a measure of justice," Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz said in a statement. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. After a weeks-long trial filled with emotional testimonies, chilling revelations and graphic photos, the jury reached a verdict in the Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz murder trial. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. After that, they will lead off summations. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. They are under investigation for failing to help. Diego Suero leaving the 48th Precinct in the Bronx. 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. WNBC reported that the grisly images brought some of the jurors to tears. 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. 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. But some of his friends were, and he had been hanging out with them at Adams Place recently. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. 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 referrals are a nice bonus too! She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. 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. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. 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. 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. Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. 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. Members of the NYPD Junior league attend Lesandro Guzman-Feliz's funeral cerenomy at Our . (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). The night of the murder, my client, Manuel Rivera, wasnt carrying a machete; he wasnt a monster and he never intended to kill Junior. It brought cries for vengeance couched in the Justice for Junior slogan. I didnt see the person who had just finished getting stabbed there, Mr. Alvarez said, choking back tears. 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. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. Junior then walks out of the bodega. The indicted are due back in court Oct. 25. Privacy Center | The friend says he told Junior not to come over because it was late. 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. Lesandro had bruising, scratches and small puncture wounds on his body, according to autopsy photos. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, reached the verdict Friday after going into deliberations Thursday. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. However, all 12 alleged gang members were indicted on second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. "See what happens with those killers," said Leandra Feliz. The store owner unlocked a door leading to the area where Lesandro was hiding, Mr. Alvarez said, and told them to take the fight outside. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the murder conviction. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. 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. In a photo obtained by The Post, a smiling Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, 15, wears an NYPD Explorers jacket proudly as he looks at the camera. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. But he acted with intent to harm. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. Heres how Lexis Search Advantage | Transactional unites internal and external research to create better deals faster. Henry also told of discovering a five-inch blade inside the passenger seat pocket of suspect Kevins Alvarezs 2003 gray Acura. In a panic, he tries to hide behind the counter. Its 11:37. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. 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 medical examiner testified she was a lumper a doctor who looks to combine injuries and conclude that they all might have contributed to death. Forsyth County prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning. "If they continue the violence in the city, theyre going to get the same thing. Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. I dont want to see it again. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. 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. The murder of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as Junior, drew outrage across New York City. 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. 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? Guzman-Feliz's mother, Leandra Feliz, wept and screamed at times during the emotional trial.. Two of the clips. Meanwhile, the defense argued that testimony supports that the suspects didnt mean to kill Guzman-Feliz. According to . The defense will have a chance Monday to call witnesses to the stand if they chose. 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. 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. Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. Investigators say the group mistook Guzman-Feliz, who was not affiliated with any gang, for a member of the rival fraction of the Trinitarios gang. Prosecutors previously said the teen succumbed to a neck wound caused by a 4-and-a-half inch knife that severed his jugular vein. . The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. 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. 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. 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. 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. Anyone can read what you share. His history was whitewashed. Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boys death later his year. Amazingly, a customer is seen purchasing an item over Juniors blood. Once that video was out, it took on a life of its own causing the defendants to lose the presumption of innocence and any chance for a fair trial (at least that close in time to the event itself under one year. 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.". Crime Scene Unit Det. Junior is on summer break from school. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! This Tool Can Help. The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. When the attackers walk in, the worker points out where Junior is hiding, and he gets dragged outof the store. Yes, he put the knife through his neck. Select from premium Lesandro of the highest quality. The cars then split up and appear to surround him. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. They attempted to cast blame on Mr. Martinez Estrella for Lesandros death. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. dragged him from the store and stabbed him to death. Its 11:39. GRAPHIC: CCTV and bystanders filming with their phones captured the gruesome Bronx bodega machete stabbing murder of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman by Trinitarios gang members. Why do so many buy into a life that restricts their freedom, imposes beatings for disobeying gang rules, and calls for violence to others? 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. Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. But its too late. 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. 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. It led to a clearer morality tale. If you have a machete, use the machete.. 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. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. 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. "Justice for Junior" has become a rallying cry. She has not been back to court since. 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. 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. Continuing coverage on the trial can be read here. Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro was not in the photos. (Obtained by NY Daily News). The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. 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. That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. Members of the Police Departments Law Enforcement Explorers program attending a memorial for Lesandro last year. 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. The store has not opened since last Wednesday when the incident took place. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. 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. (Police were stationed in the street outside court, anticipating a riot should the verdict not have come back as guilty on all counts.). The ADAs argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Juniors neck the medical examiner says killed him. Toni Messina has tried over 100 cases and has been practicing criminal law and immigration since 1990. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path.