Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? But in this case, she couldnt. Except thats not what happened. Crime Scene Unit Det. 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. Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. According to . Five more gang members pleaded guilty in the brutal machete stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz inside a Bronx bodega in 2018. His history was whitewashed. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. 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? Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. Warning: Details of Fridays testimony are graphic in nature and may be disturbing to some. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. 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. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! We dont know. 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.. 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. The indicted are due back in court Oct. 25. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. On his way there, Junior was in touch with this friend, who lives on Adams Place and who, according to our reporting, is not in a gang, either. Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. Our investigation retraces Juniors last steps and uncovers new details that may answer why he was targeted. Manuel enjoyed the Trinitarios parties, the hookah, the beads, the hand signs, the comradery, and fact that they had his back. At Least Your Colleague Spat Wasnt This Bad: Some things we just dont share with the class. The New York Post ran a front-page headline in bold caps,. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. She said the jugular wound caused him to lose a lot of blood, but blood rushed out more quickly because no one applied pressure and he ran to the hospital. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro was not in the photos. In total, more than a dozen suspects have been arrested in connection to the killing. Heres How To Get Yours Right. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. Juniors friend, a Trinitario, had been attacked by a rival faction and allegedly turned to Junior for help. 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. 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. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . What Do Millennials Think Of Law Firm Life? 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.. "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. After the verdict, Mr. Muniz showed no remorse and shouted, Popote, hasta la muerte! slang for Trinitarios until death.. He gave a coded gang response when asked a question by a Trinitarios gang member driving by. 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. ALL 8 SUSPECTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED #justiceforjunior #JUNIOR #ripjunior #JUSTICE4JUNIOR #justice #bronx. 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. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. Criminal defense attorney Chris Carrion has been observing the trial from the start. READ: #JusticeForJunior: A Group of Men Fatally Stabbed Bronx Teen With Machete. 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 10 people had been injured in June in a series of street battles. 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. The referrals are a nice bonus too! Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. Nearly a year after Lesandro was killed, a jury found five of the men guilty of murder and related charges on Friday, capping five weeks of testimony that provided a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the Trinitarios, a highly organized and brutally violent Dominican gang. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after LesandroJunior Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. Yesterday lawyers for four of the suspects accused of stabbing 15-year-old . ", "It was a terrible year, it felt like 10 years. 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. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. (Jefferson Siegel/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS). Is that why Junior was targeted? 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. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. Do not sell my information. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. 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. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. I dont want to see it again. Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. 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. Lesandro had bruising, scratches and small puncture wounds on his body, according to autopsy photos. 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. He leaves and immediately three other men enter. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. 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. And on the night before Juniors murder, he had witnessed another stabbing at Adams Place. Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. 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. Sabathia. The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. 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. Following that, no amount of logic, analysis, or pleas for reason could convince jurors to set aside their emotions. It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. If you have a machete, use the machete.. The boy was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. Its 11:39. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. 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. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. They hang out on a stoop close by, chatting and listening to hip-hop, according to Jason. stop killing our brothersThe full story about 15-year old teen junior stabbed to death Justice for. Hes been charged with these crimes. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. Ultimately, he was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. The defense will have a chance Monday to call witnesses to the stand if they chose. Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? Two of the clips. The 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Officer Oikawa would later learn. Richard Harbus "A Bronx jury found the two leaders guilty for their role in the murder, closing another chapter of. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. The dad struggled to make a living and Manuel struggled in school. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. Recommended Stories Deadline. Passersby try to help. The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. 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. Manuel Rivera came from the Dominican Republic (legally) at age 15 with his dad and two sisters. Henry also told of discovering a five-inch blade inside the passenger seat pocket of suspect Kevins Alvarezs 2003 gray Acura. Erica Byfield reports. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones. Its alleged that defendant Jonaiki Martinez Estrella plunged the knife into Juniors neck near the end of the 20-second attack. The panel found all five guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree gang assault. The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, reached the verdict Friday after going into deliberations Thursday. 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.". That wound was inflicted by one defendant alone, Mr. Estrella. What could be put in place in their neighborhoods to substitute the pull of the gang? New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. Surveillance cameras reportedly caught a group of men dragging Guzman-Feliz outside a Bronx bodega before attacking him. GRAPHIC: CCTV and bystanders filming with their phones captured the gruesome Bronx bodega machete stabbing murder of Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman by Trinitarios gang members. She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. This story has been shared 137,355 times. The night before Lesandro was killed, a large fight had erupted between the gangs, he said. Prosecutors introduced three clips of video. Instead, he said, he watched as other Trinitarios members dragged Junior outside and hacked him to death with machetes and knives. Continuing coverage on the trial can be read here. Lets continue to examine why so many youths, particularly from inner cities, are attracted to the brutality of gangs. The teen wanted to be a police. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was slashed in the neck with a machete at a bodega in the Bronx on June 19, 2018. An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior . Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? How do you protect your children from predators? Content should be organized in different stages, from when potential clients search for initial information to eventually contacting your law firm. He was a skinny kid, just 120 pounds, 56 inches tall. "I saw a smile on my mothers face really, really excited.". Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. 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. Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. He felt cool. She has not been back to court since. He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. 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. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. New Yorkers flooded investigators with tips. A jury began deliberating Thursday on the five mens fates. . 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. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. At the moment I saw his face, my eyes changed. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. Reyes told the jury he chased a frightened Junior inside the bodega and lied to the storekeeper that the teen had done something to my grandmother.. 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. A group of gang members armed with machetes and knives. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. 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. Only someone in the gang would know the response. Fellow defendant Jose Muniz was heard saying "Trinitarios to the day I die" as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. Also consider other hobbies. UPDATE! The federal judiciary is getting more diverse. Then, Elvin Garcia, who police say is seen here wearing a mask. They are under investigation for failing to help. Members of the NYPD Junior league attend Lesandro Guzman-Feliz's funeral cerenomy at Our . : Reach out just to catch up. 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.