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. 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. All of the men charged have pleaded not guilty. Then, Elvin Garcia, who police say is seen here wearing a mask. 270p. Its 11:37. Ultimately, he was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. What could be put in place in their neighborhoods to substitute the pull of the gang? Yes, he put the knife through his neck. It led to a clearer morality tale. They're not gonna forget it. They gathered outside of Mr. Sueros apartment building on Boston Road, where they smoked hookah and played music. Two of the clips. When the attackers walk in, the worker points out where Junior is hiding, and he gets dragged outof the store. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally attacked and slashed to death in June 2018 in a case of mistaken identity. 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. 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. 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 mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. Dixons closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Felizs neck which reportedly killed him. Guzman-Feliz's death sparked outrage in the Bronx and beyond and spurred the allocation of $18 million toward gang prevention in the borough. Instead, he said, he watched as other Trinitarios members dragged Junior outside and hacked him to death with machetes and knives. But the owner appears to direct him away. The teen wanted to be a police. 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. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. 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. Manuel enjoyed the Trinitarios parties, the hookah, the beads, the hand signs, the comradery, and fact that they had his back. Forsyth County prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning. He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. The ADA's argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Junior's neck the medical examiner says killed him. (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. 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. News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. The indicted are due back in court Oct. 25. Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. 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. 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. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. Also consider other hobbies. Yesterday lawyers for four of the suspects accused of stabbing 15-year-old . At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. 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. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. She said she watched the attack from an apartment window and ran downstairs to try to help. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. 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As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Knitting, perhaps, Some things we just dont share with the class, Kamala Harris Has Been Busy Breaking Judiciary Ties, DOJ Makes Radical Argument That Inciting Violence Is *Not* Within The Scope Of The President's Job, Working To Incorporate Legal Technology Into Your Practice Isn't Just A Great Business Move -- It's Required, Add Ai Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List See Also, Thomson Reuters Practical Law The Journal: Transactions & Business, The State Of Todays Corporate Law Departments, MyCase Continues To Simplify Law Firm Accounting, Right Where You Manage Your Practice, Meet LINK: The Easy Way To Handle All Your Document Workflows On Your Mobile Device In A Single App, Four Tips For Solo Attorneys To Build Their Marketing And Media Relations Skills, First Impressions Are Worth Millions For Summers. 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. According to police, the drivers spot Junior and taunt him. 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. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. 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. Continuing coverage on the trial can be read here. "See what happens with those killers," said Leandra Feliz. 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. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. "Justice for Junior" has become a rallying cry. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. 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 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. Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. 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.. Recommended Stories Deadline. What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. Crime Scene Unit Det. Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. Only someone in the gang would know the response. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? "This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like . If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. As Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said in a press conference following the verdict, Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence. Also consider other hobbies. After that, they will lead off summations. I didnt see the person who had just finished getting stabbed there, Mr. Alvarez said, choking back tears. 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. This Aint One Of Them: Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. Passersby try to help. After Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Fernandez pulled the boy outside, the others attacked. 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. It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. 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. 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. 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. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. However, all 12 alleged gang members were indicted on second degree murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Criminal defense attorney Chris Carrion has been observing the trial from the start. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]. He leaves and immediately three other men enter. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. 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. We've received your submission. Goldberg hammered the medical examiner to get his point across that his client did not cause any physical injury to Junior, because a machete would have resulted in decapitation or mutilation. After the verdict, Mr. Muniz showed no remorse and shouted, Popote, hasta la muerte! slang for Trinitarios until death.. Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. Anyone can read what you share. MORE: Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder A teenager hunted down and dragged from a New York City bodega, then swarmed by attackers outside. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. They are under investigation for failing to help. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. Heres how Lexis Search Advantage | Transactional unites internal and external research to create better deals faster. The night of the murder, my client, Manuel Rivera, wasnt carrying a machete; he wasnt a monster and he never intended to kill Junior. Dr. Rodriguez said its possible if pressure was applied to the wound and Junior was brought to the hospital earlier, he could have survived. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . 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. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. 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. Prosecutors introduced three clips of video. 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. But at the end, it has a happy ending," said Manny Ortiz. "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. 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. We dont know. They pursued him in cars, mistaking the aspiring NYPD detective for a gangbanger because he supposedly resembled a known one. When Junior ran, the group gave chase. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. Although this position was strenuously argued by defense counsel, the jury ignored it. Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue. 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. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The night before Lesandro was killed, a large fight had erupted between the gangs, he said. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. Hes been charged with these crimes. 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. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones. At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. All five defendants Antonio Santigo, Elvin Garcia, Manuel Rivera, Estrella and Muniz were members of the Trinitarios gang. She has not been back to court since. During Tuesdays closing arguments, Bronx assistant district attorney Morgan Dolan told the jury how Lesandro Guzman-Feliz valiantly avoided multiple attempted stabbings by a mob of men who had dragged him out of a bodega on June 20. THE BRONX He knew they had killed the wrong guy. The knife used to deliver the lethal blow to Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz last June 20 went clear through the teens neck, causing him to bleed to death, the medical examiner, Dr. Sophia Rodriguez, testified. Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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? A bottle of hate had been uncorked and there was no way to close it. ", "It was a terrible year, it felt like 10 years. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. [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. Richard Harbus "A Bronx jury found the two leaders guilty for their role in the murder, closing another chapter of. Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz. 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. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. In recent months, turf wars have spiked among rival Trinitario factions. 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,. 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. Members of the NYPD Junior league attend Lesandro Guzman-Feliz's funeral cerenomy at Our . Junior is on summer break from school. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the murder conviction. 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. 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 ADAs argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Juniors neck the medical examiner says killed him. The referrals are a nice bonus too! But what the autopsy report meticulously documented was that Junior suffered minor physical injury, superficial wounds, no bigger than a lentil, except for a large wound to his neck.
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