Closing Aguments In 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz Murder Trial The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. Select from premium Lesandro of the highest quality. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Closing arguments proved to be just as emotional, as some jury members shed tears. Warning Graphic Video Below. Police had seized the footage that night and it got leaked. "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. Junior came to symbolize all of the young people who have lost their lives to brutal gang violence, the Bronx district attorney, Darcel D. Clark, said. Dixon's closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Feliz's neck which reportedly killed him. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. *WARNING, GRAPHIC CONTENT* Lesandro "JUNIOR"Guzman Feliz STAB - YouTube 270p. 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. Mr. Sueros trial is expected to start soon. Diego Suero leaving the 48th Precinct in the Bronx. On the night of June 20th , he was ordered by a leader nicknamed Psycho to find a Sunset (a rival gang member). Guzman-Feliz's mother, Leandra Feliz, wept and screamed at times during the emotional trial.. "If they continue the violence in the city, theyre going to get the same thing. Gang ordered 'damage' before 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz death - New York Post Knitting, perhaps? 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. Lesandro, who had hidden behind the counter, pleaded with the men, saying he was not the person they were looking for. Go after Sunset, you know what you have to do, Suero reportedly told the men. She said it cut the bone that protects the spinal cord and left an exit wound on the other side of his neck. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. Continuing coverage on the trial can be read here. ", If you have a gun, you shoot, he testified. They attempted to cast blame on Mr. Martinez Estrella for Lesandros death. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! 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. 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. 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. 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. Only someone in the gang would know the response. "I saw a smile on my mothers face really, really excited.". Frederick Then was arrested in 2018 in connection with Lesandros death. 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. However, police have said the teens murder was a case of mistaken identity. Whether Junior was a gang member or not, didnt justify his death. Upper East Side subway station elevator stalls, trapping 1 Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, Buster Murdaugh got 'very drunk' with dad 2 months after mom, brother murdered: source, I'm a professional cleaner ditch these 4 household products immediately, How a retired detective snared his seventh 'Torso Killer' confession, It's insane that NYers can use but not buy pepper spray for self-defense: Change this now, Shoeless Ariana Madix awkwardly tries to avoid cheating Tom Sandoval, Prince Harry was scared to lose Meghan Markle after fight that led to therapy, Prince Harry says psychedelics are fundamental part of his life, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant allegedly flashes gun at a strip club, Tom Sandoval, Raquel Leviss planned to tell Ariana Madix about affair. But the owner appears to direct him away. The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, reached the verdict Friday after going into deliberations Thursday. Some Work Things Are Optional. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. Secure New Clients Using A Content Marketing Funnel, Seth Klarman Doesnt Care Whether J.K. Rowling Is Cancelled. If you have a machete, use the machete.. According to prosecutors, Jos Muniz first hacks Junior with a machete. Erica Byfield reports. One of the Trinitarios, who turned cooperator and will now face no jail time, dragged Junior from the bodega where he was hiding and onto the street. Then he walked toward Adams Place, where he sometimes met with friends. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. Since the violent attack, the communitys outpouring of love and support has been seen in a mural. : Reach out just to catch up. Two gang leaders convicted for 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz murder The teen wanted to be a police. Hes at home with his mother. A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! 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. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. Just 20 minutes later, Junior is pronounced dead as a result of a stab wound to the neck. It was a lawyers argument (as the judges law clerk put it) intellectual, nitpicky not visceral. Then hes dragged from the bodega and brutally stabbed by a swarm of attackers. 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. But a leading police theory is the attackers mistakenly believed Junior was in a rival gang. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. 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. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. Junior gestures for someone to call 911. Prosecutors rested their case today in the Junior murder trial, but not without a graphic and powerful finish. Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? Photos of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz - Find a 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. News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. Brown said Janari became the 38th juvenile murdered in gun violence in Chicago in the first seven months of 2020. The only injury that caused Juniors death was clearly the neck wound. Juniors parents, Leandra Feliz and Lisandro Guzman, were not present in the courtroom during the medical examiners testimony. 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. Guzman-Feliz's death sparked outrage in the Bronx and beyond and spurred the allocation of $18 million toward gang prevention in the borough. Privacy Center | Anyone can read what you share. Blood was splattered on the floor and counter of Cruz & Chiki Deli on Bathgate Ave and 183rd St., the store Junior was dragged from as he desperately sought refuge from his attackers, the detective 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. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner announced the cause of death for slain teen Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. The medical examiner testified the wounds on his back and legs were consistent with being dragged. Video surveillance showed the men dragging Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz out of a Bronx bodega on his back and stabbing him with long knives and a machete. But Morgan Dolan, the lead prosecutor, countered that weapons like knives and machetes kill and the gang members went in knowing that.. Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. He only said that one word -- "water," she testified. Junior stumbles back into the bodega, leaving a trail of blood on the floor. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). 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. 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. Junior is on summer break from school. 2-year-old Joliet boy finds unsecured gun, shoots himself in the head 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. 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. Forsyth County prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning. 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. Nils Gerber and Stephen Ball, Stacks' attorneys, presented evidence and rested their case after about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. We want to know your views on law firm policies and culture. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. : Enjoy. The men punched and kicked Lesandro before dragging him out. On Monday, City Council members Ritchie Torres, Vanessa Gibson, and Rafael Salamanca wrote a letter to Department of Consumer Affairs asking that the bodega be shut down. Hes making more money from Hogwarts: Legacy than her anyway. 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. Prosecutors introduced three clips of video. 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. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. Grim details on Junior Guzman-Feliz murder sparks dad to lash out in Prosecutors showed jurors an autopsy photo showing the lethal wound to the neck of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. Eight others are awaiting trial. 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. His English was poor. 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. Their trial provided a glimpse inside the violent Trinitarios gang, whose members mistook 15-year-old Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz for a rival. 'Justice for Junior': Slain teen memorialized by murals - AmNewYork 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. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz case: Five guilty of murder in mistaken UPDATE! Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. At around 11:30, Junior leaves, and two minutes later security cameras catch him on this corner passing near his home. We dont know. Chicago-Area 2-Year-Old Critical After Shooting Self in Head But at the end, it has a happy ending," said Manny Ortiz. "Justice for Junior" has become a rallying cry. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. Junior and the bodega owner appear to have an exchange with Kevin Alvarez before Junior is grabbed and beaten on the ground. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. The cars then split up and appear to surround him. At the moment I saw his face, my eyes changed. 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. One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. The panel found all five guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree gang assault. It is unclear if Reyes is in witness protection or has also been released with other gangbanger-turned-witness Kevin Alvarez, 20. They gathered outside of Mr. Sueros apartment building on Boston Road, where they smoked hookah and played music. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. 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. The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. 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. 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. . Five other people have been arrested and accused of involvement in the crime. 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. Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. Sabathia. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. The defense team asked Dr. Rodriguez if any of these additional wounds contributed to the teens death. ", "It was a terrible year, it felt like 10 years. 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.