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. Junior would go on to die outside of St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx. 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. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. Diego Suero leaving the 48th Precinct in the Bronx. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. 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. Just two days before Junior was killed, a 14-year-old was seriously injured in this attack. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. 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. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. We obtained footage from multiple security cameras and cellphones. 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. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. The murder was just as horrific. Todays verdict fortifies the Bronx communitys stand against violence.. But in this case, she couldnt. This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. 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. Hes been charged with these crimes. 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. Passersby try to help. Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Instead of turning to police, he turned to the Trinitarios, who like him, shared a Dominican heritage. 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. Criminal defense attorney Chris Carrion has been observing the trial from the start. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. It made the tragedy of his killing that much worse and convictions that much more guaranteed. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! They face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the murder conviction. It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. 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. The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . 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. Gasps, Tears as Never-Before-Seen Video of Attack - NBC New York 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. Also consider other hobbies. That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year. The convicted killers will be sentenced Tuesday, July 16. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. 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. 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. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . Junior stumbles back into the bodega, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, reached the verdict Friday after going into deliberations Thursday. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our. The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. She said it cut the bone that protects the spinal cord and left an exit wound on the other side of his neck. The defense will have a chance Monday to call witnesses to the stand if they chose. 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. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. What Do Millennials Think Of Law Firm Life? The second day of trial in the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was emotional and filled with graphic video and photos. Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Members of the NYPD Junior league attend Lesandro Guzman-Feliz's funeral cerenomy at Our . 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. 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Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. She has not been back to court since. Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. 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. 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. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. Nine others charged in the killing are awaiting 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. 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. New surveillance footage shows the moments before and after Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was brutally jumped and stabbed to death. The ADA's argument also included graphic autopsy photos including the slit on Junior's neck the medical examiner says killed him. 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. 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. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. 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. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. Heres how Lexis Search Advantage | Transactional unites internal and external research to create better deals faster. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. 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. All Five Defendants Found Guilty of Murder in Brutal 'Junior' Guzman Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. Erica Byfield reports. Only someone in the gang would know the response. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. Its 11:37. 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. Anyone can read what you share. They're not gonna forget it. His history was whitewashed. Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity. 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. This story has been shared 137,355 times. Dimas Sanfiorenzo is the Managing Editor for Okayplayer. Heres How To Get Yours Right. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. What is the derivation of this distorted quest for manhood and meaning? Because he resisted their efforts to stab him does not diminish their intent.. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. Following that, no amount of logic, analysis, or pleas for reason could convince jurors to set aside their emotions. 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. 2023 Breaking Media, Inc. All rights reserved. A warning: These next scenes are hard to watch, and weve obscured some graphic parts. Just 20 minutes later, Junior is pronounced dead as a result of a stab wound to the neck. 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. Content should be organized in different stages, from when potential clients search for initial information to eventually contacting your law firm. Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as 'Junior,' was mistaken for another person in a murder earlier this week described as "among the most brutal crimes I've seen in my 36yr career," New York . The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. Crime, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Gangs, Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz, Manuel Rivera, Murder, Toni Messina. 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. 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. . 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 night before Lesandro was killed, a large fight had erupted between the gangs, he said. Ultimately, he was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz 'fought like hell' as machete-wielding gang The worker again refuses to help. Gang ordered 'damage' before 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz death - New York Post 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. As opposed to Trump, who says presidents are free to incite at will. Juniors parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. He was picked on and one time, beaten up so badly his ribs were broken. Fellow defendant Jose Muniz was heard saying "Trinitarios to the day I die" as he left the courtroom following the guilty verdicts. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. Do not sell my information. UPDATE! At 10:05 p.m., security footage shows Junior leaving home to meet his friend Jason Velez at this corner. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. Recommended Stories Deadline. The OCME said Wednesday the teens death in the Belmont area of the Bronx was a stab wound to the neck, and classified the death as a homicide. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. On June 20, members of both Bronx sets had spent much of the day hunting for their enemies, Mr. Alvarez said. What Better Place To Network Than The Facebook Friends List? News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. During closing arguments, some jurors were seen crying as autopsy photos were displayed. Five gang members sentenced for killing a 15-year-old with a machete - CNN 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. Mere days after the trial kicked off startling never-before-seen footage of the savage machete attack was presented by prosecutors. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. The knife made it from the right side to the left, hit the muscle, hit the (jugular) vein, went behind the throat, hit the tissue on the back side of the mouth, Dr. Rodriguez said. New York Police Department . There are nine others charged in Guzman's murder that are still awaiting trial. Nothing can. He was a skinny kid, just 120 pounds, 56 inches tall. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. 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 Your Colleague Spat Wasnt This Bad: Some things we just dont share with the class. If they did not participate, the lawyers said, they would have been disciplined. 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. 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. 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. 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. If you have a knife, you stab. It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. Junior and the bodega owner appear to have an exchange with Kevin Alvarez before Junior is grabbed and beaten on the ground. Just after the stabbing death of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz last June 20, members of the Trinitarios were examining a photo of gang . Chicago-Area 2-Year-Old Critical After Shooting Self in Head Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue. A group of gang members armed with machetes and knives. WNBC reported that the . The medical examiner testified the wounds on his back and legs were consistent with being dragged. 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. Warning Graphic Video Below. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. We dont know. Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. People visit murder site to mourn the death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz in Bronx in New York, United States on June 27, 2018. . Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. Guzman-Feliz's death sparked outrage in the Bronx and beyond and spurred the allocation of $18 million toward gang prevention in the borough. 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Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. Forsyth County prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning. 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