Its 11:37. 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. 'Junior' trial star witness Kevin Alvarez describes moment - PIX11 It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. They carried weapons for two reasons for their own protection and to use them to hurt (not kill) a Sunset. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. All five defendants Antonio Santigo, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera, Estrella and Muniz were members of the Trinitarios gang. Continuing coverage on the trial can be read here. 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. One man, identified by prosecutors as Jose Tavarez, enters the bodega and spots Junior. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. 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. The boy was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. Five men approached, including Manuel, weapons in hand. 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.. This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. 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. Some Work Things Are Optional. 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. 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. 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 then walks out of the bodega. Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. 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. Mere days after the trial kicked off startling never-before-seen footage of the savage machete attack was presented by prosecutors. He makes it to the entrance of the hospital before collapsing. According to . Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. Passersby try to help. dragged him from the store and stabbed him to death. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was slashed in the neck with a machete at a bodega in the Bronx on June 19, 2018. The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. 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. . 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.. "If they continue the violence in the city, theyre going to get the same thing. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. All Five Defendants Found Guilty of Murder in Brutal 'Junior' Guzman Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? It is unclear what the jury decided on. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. Gasps, Tears as Never-Before-Seen Video of Attack - NBC New York They hang out on a stoop close by, chatting and listening to hip-hop, according to Jason. Hes been charged with these crimes. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! LexisNexis Brief Analysis produces powerful, near-instant legal argumentation insights using the power of AI. 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. Eight others are awaiting trial. 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. But he acted with intent to harm. Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death. 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. 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. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. A jury began deliberating Thursday on the five mens fates. He felt cool. 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz 'fought like hell' as machete-wielding gang Lets continue to examine why so many youths, particularly from inner cities, are attracted to the brutality of gangs. 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. Get updates on the coronavirus pandemic and other news as it happens with our free breaking news email alerts. 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. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. Junior is on summer break from school. His English was poor. Closing Aguments In 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz Murder Trial 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. Crime Scene Unit Det. Sabathia. 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. 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. That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. (No one claims responsibility.) "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. 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. 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. But Reyes told the court that he couldnt follow through with Sueros order after looking Junior in the face. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. 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. Lesandro, who had hidden behind the counter, pleaded with the men, saying he was not the person they were looking for. 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. Because he resisted their efforts to stab him does not diminish their intent.. Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boys death later his year. 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. 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. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. 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. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. How Junior was killed follows a pattern of attacks by Trinitarios, a Dominican gang that was born in New York prisons. Henry also told of discovering a five-inch blade inside the passenger seat pocket of suspect Kevins Alvarezs 2003 gray Acura. Its Wednesday, June 20. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Two gang leaders convicted for 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz murder 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. 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. 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. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. 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. Yes, he put the knife through his neck. 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.". Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue. The murder of Lesandro, who went by the nickname Junior, was well documented on videotape from security cameras and the cellphones of witnesses, providing prosecutors with hard proof to support their case. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. UPDATE! Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. Then, Elvin Garcia, who police say is seen here wearing a mask. 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. MORE: Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder 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. 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. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. We've received your submission. Yesterday lawyers for four of the suspects accused of stabbing 15-year-old . 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. 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. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. A dozen people appeared in court facing charges related to the death of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who was killed in the Bronx. But the owner appears to direct him away. That isgonna stick with this jury for the rest of the weekend, he says. Mr. Reyes said they falsely told the store owner that Lesandro had attacked his own grandmother. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. (Police were stationed in the street outside court, anticipating a riot should the verdict not have come back as guilty on all counts.). They attempted to cast blame on Mr. Martinez Estrella for Lesandros death. 'Very painful': Father of slain Bronx teen Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman They also argued their clients were pretending to stab Lesandro because gang leaders were watching the assault. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. The night of the murder, my client, Manuel Rivera, wasnt carrying a machete; he wasnt a monster and he never intended to kill Junior. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. 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. She said it cut the bone that protects the spinal cord and left an exit wound on the other side of his neck. Newly released videos show Junior's desperate final moments before Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. Knitting, perhaps? Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. The vicious murder in June of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz just blocks from his Bronx home drew outrage from across the city and beyond. He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was murdered outside of a Bronx deli in 2019. Closing arguments continue in the murder trial of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]. I dont want to see it again. 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. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. At least 10 people had been injured in June in a series of street battles. A group of gang members armed with machetes and knives. 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. "I saw a smile on my mothers face really, really excited.". This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. Warning: Details of Fridays testimony are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some. She has not been back to court since. But its too late. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. 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. READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. "This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like . At Least 6 Minors Shot in Chicago in Last 24 Hours [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. 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. One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. Crime, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Gangs, Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz, Manuel Rivera, Murder, Toni Messina. 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.. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones. Fellow defendant Jose Muniz was heard saying "Trinitarios to the day I die" as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. 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. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? 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. 'Borderline gruesome' autopsy photos among the last pieces of evidence Lesandro Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images Junior was spotted walking late at night in the Bronx neighborhood frequented by the Sunsets. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . 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. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". 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. Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. ", Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark. They gathered outside of Mr. Sueros apartment building on Boston Road, where they smoked hookah and played music. Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro was not in the photos. 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George Santos introduced his first bill in Congress, Program provides hearing screenings for immigrant, Vegan doughnut shop shaking things up in Brooklyn, Nonprofit bakery looks for permanent home, How to kill spotted lanternflies before they hatch, Projections show Social Security fund running dry, Zombie drug tranq was in Puerto Rico 10 years ago, Behold, The Coney: First look at proposed BK casino, BK fast-food joint robbed via drive-thru window:, Gunman in hazmat suit shot, killed NYC deli worker:, BK train rider hit by man told not to touch her:, Calls for healthcare covereage of undocumented NYers, How to report no heat in NYC: Resources for tenants, Rising rent in NYC: Heres what tenants need to know, Suicide prevention and mental health resources, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. People visit murder site to mourn the death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz in Bronx in New York, United States on June 27, 2018. . His history was whitewashed. Guzman-Feliz's death sparked outrage in the Bronx and beyond and spurred the allocation of $18 million toward gang prevention in the borough. (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. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. He was walking toward Adams Place, a small street about five minutes away thats known for gang activity. The murder was just as horrific. 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. That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year.
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