Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon Manuel Rivera is accused of repeatedly stabbing Junior. Antonio Santiago is seen here from this other angle. The New York Post ran a front-page headline in bold caps,. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. The teen wanted to be a police. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was murdered outside of a Bronx deli in 2019. 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. Richard Harbus "A Bronx jury found the two leaders guilty for their role in the murder, closing another chapter of. I represented one of the Machete Monsters and I liked him. The referrals are a nice bonus too, Get to figuring your way around AI sooner rather than later, Enjoy. The jury of 11 women and a man took only two days to decide the fates of the defendants Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 25, Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 25, Jose Muniz, 23, Manuel Rivera, 19, and Elvin Garcia, 25. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. The 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Officer Oikawa would later learn. 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. Photo Credit: Marisol Diaz-Gordon "It was just starting," he said. Its 11:37. 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. WNBC reported that the grisly images brought some of the jurors to tears. 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. Stuck Drafting A Tough Brief? Community member Elizabeth De Jesus likened the photo to a horror movie. [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. Friends and family told us that Junior wasnt in a gang and the police have no such indication, either. Students and staff from the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School gathered Friday to honor Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz, who was tragically stabbed to death in 2018. At Least Your Colleague Spat Wasnt This Bad: Some things we just dont share with the class. ), It was shared millions of times on social media and in the general press. Dimas Sanfiorenzo is the Managing Editor for Okayplayer. Hundreds attended his funeral last summer. Add AI Research And Catching Up With Your Law School Buds To The Career Growth List -- See Also, Reach out just to catch up. Mr. Alvarez, Mr. Reyes and a third man went into the store and asked the owner and workers to let them take Lesandro. But he acted with intent to harm. 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.". The five men who viciously slashed a New York teenager to death with . They are under investigation for failing to help. Dixons closing arguments also included the presentation of autopsy photos showing the wound to Guzman-Felizs neck which reportedly killed him. In the beginning of the video, the teen is seen trying to hide behind the counter. He felt cool. On the night of Juniors murder, Trinitarios were driving around looking for Sunset members when they spotted the 15-year-old walking. Last week, court officers had to restrain and remove a screaming Leandra Feliz as Judge Robert Neary blasted her as hysterical.. The defense also tried to discredit Guzman-Feliz alleging he was in a gang photo a notion a detective who took the stand denied. Except thats not what happened. 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. READ: #JusticeForJunior: 19-Year-Old Charged in the Murder of Bronx Teenager. 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. : Enjoy. Mr. Alvarez testified that Lesandro was not in the photos. The second day of trial in the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was emotional and filled with graphic video and photos. One made a gesture as if he were going to hit Lesandro and the teenager ran, the witnesses said. : Reach out just to catch up. If you have a machete, use the machete.. THE BRONX He knew they had killed the wrong guy. Justice for Junior Special: More than a Murder, Defense hammers key witness on role in 'Junior' death. 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. 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. An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior . 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. WPIX reported that theyre charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, manslaughter, gang assault, and conspiracy. Although this position was strenuously argued by defense counsel, the jury ignored it. He did not act with the intent to kill.. dragged him from the store and stabbed him to death. What Do Millennials Think Of Law Firm Life? 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. At least 10 other people have been maimed this summer in tit-for-tat attacks in the Bronx. In opening statements, prosecutors described the teen's killing as a calculated and planned murder by the five suspects. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, 15, was slashed in the neck with a machete at a bodega in the Bronx on June 19, 2018. A street was named after Junior, a scholarship fund, a summer camp. Privacy Center | As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. News and analysis from this company could be a game-changer for legal professionals working globally. It appeared from a video of the crime (caught from multiple angles) that each attacked him viciously. 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. They're not gonna forget it. All 14 suspects are reportedly members of the Sures set of the Trinitarios gang. He was a skinny kid, just 120 pounds, 56 inches tall. 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,. 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. The footage went viral and with it, rumor and speculation about why the 15-year-old boy known as Junior was singled out. Join Nancy Grace and a team of world-class experts for the online course Justice Nation: Crime Stops Here. In the video, we see the 15 . The medical examiner testified the wounds on his back and legs were consistent with being dragged. 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. 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? Also consider other hobbies. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz in June 2018. Eight others are awaiting trial. 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. When Junior ran, the group gave chase. But Reyes told the court that he couldnt follow through with Sueros order after looking Junior in the face. 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. No one, not prosecutors or police, wanted to admit, that Junior had gang connections. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.]. Yesterday lawyers for four of the suspects accused of stabbing 15-year-old . If convicted, they face life in prison. Registration or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. But at the end, it has a happy ending," said Manny Ortiz. 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. Some Work Things Are Optional. Prosecutors say that Jonaiki Martinez gave the fatal stab, slashing Juniors neck. After a weeks-long trial filled with emotional testimonies, chilling revelations and graphic photos, the jury reached a verdict in the Lesandro Junior Guzman-Feliz murder trial. Prosecutors previously said the teen succumbed to a neck wound caused by a 4-and-a-half inch knife that severed his jugular vein. 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. Theodore Parisienne for The New York Times. Warning Graphic Video Below. Since the violent attack, the communitys outpouring of love and support has been seen in a mural. 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. Continuing coverage on the trial can be read here. 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. 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. stop killing our brothersThe full story about 15-year old teen junior stabbed to death Justice for. 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. 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. Ultimately, he was slashed in the neck and died after running to a hospital three blocks away. Fourteen men have been criminally charged in connection with Guzman-Felizs slaying. 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. Kevin Alvarez, who pleaded guilty a weeks ago, took the stand to testify on behalf of the prosecution. Five other people have been arrested and accused of involvement in the crime. Its Wednesday, June 20. They face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the murder conviction. The convicted killers will be sentenced Tuesday, July 16. It led to a clearer morality tale. The teen reportedly bled to death steps from the emergency room. The cars briefly stop at this intersection, and then turn left in the direction of Juniors path. Junior rushes into this bodega just one block from his home. It was very painful, Guzman told reporters in Spanish. 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. Lets continue to examine why so many youths, particularly from inner cities, are attracted to the brutality of gangs. A jury began deliberating Thursday on the five mens fates. Junior suffered multiple wounds to his face, back, chest, legs and hands. 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.. Heres How To Get Yours Right. The federal judiciary is getting more diverse. 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. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. They probablywon't forget itfor the rest of their lives.. At least eight other men are on the lookout some, armed with knives. The store has not opened since last Wednesday when the incident took place. Both times the worker refuses to help the young teen. (Obtained by NY Daily News). Surveillance cameras reportedly caught a group of men dragging Guzman-Feliz outside a Bronx bodega before attacking him. 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. His history was whitewashed. 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.. Junior begins to run and the cars give chase. Dr. Rodriguez also said it was possible Junior may have survived if brought to the hospital sooner. The defense attorney for the man who allegedly dealt that throat cut took offense at that. The New York City Police Foundation announced it planned to set up a scholarship in his name. 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. Crime, Criminal Defense Attorneys, Gangs, Lesandro Junior Guzman Feliz, Manuel Rivera, Murder, Toni Messina. The friend says they felt things were getting dicey and went inside. 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. But its too late. Then he starts running to St. Barnabas Hospital, just one block away. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This story has been shared 137,355 times. Video footage was released on social media that showed the murder. After Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Fernandez pulled the boy outside, the others attacked. 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 Post ran a front-page headline in bold caps, MACHETE MONSTERS GUILTY.. "See what happens with those killers," said Leandra Feliz. Subscribe and get breaking news, commentary, and opinions on law firms, lawyers, law schools, lawsuits, judges, and more. Of those 38, five were under the age of 10. 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. That night, Lesandro had left his home on Bathgate Avenue to lend a friend $5, his mother had said during an interview last year. 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. 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. Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boys death later his year. The referrals are a nice bonus too! Mr. Alvarez and Mr. Reyes described how their subsets of the Trinitarios terrorized rivals, including a Trinitarios splinter group called Sunset. 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. She used her summation to show the jury the boys final moments repeatedly, slowing it down to show each defendants actions. Hes been charged with these crimes. Is Your Firm Keeping Pace With The Advancements In eDiscovery? Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark said each of the . Anyone can read what you share. Closing arguments proved to be just as emotional, as some jury members shed tears. "I saw a smile on my mothers face really, really excited.". The mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. When The Founder Of SCOTUSblog Calles It Quits, You Know Something Is UP: 5 is a tough crowd, 6 is a waste of time. Lesandro, who had hidden behind the counter, pleaded with the men, saying he was not the person they were looking for. After that, they will lead off summations. Following that, no amount of logic, analysis, or pleas for reason could convince jurors to set aside their emotions. Junior's parents were not in court, having been warned the images would be shown. But Morgan Dolan, the lead prosecutor, countered that weapons like knives and machetes kill and the gang members went in knowing that.. His understanding, as was everyones, was that the group was ordered to physically harm (not kill) any Sunset they found. In a panic, he tries to hide behind the counter. 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. It also made his story easier to use as a rallying cry to target gangs that attract and control vulnerable teens like Manuel. 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. 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. Criminal defense attorney Chris Carrion has been observing the trial from the start. 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. Understanding Big Law: A Must-Read Guide To One Of The Most Challenging Workplaces In The World Is Now Available. You can follow her on Twitter:@tonitamess. 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. All of the men charged have pleaded not guilty. Members of Los Sures took orders from a leader named Diego Suero, whom they called Santa Claus.. 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. Defense lawyers for the four other defendants said in their closing arguments that the order from Mr. Suero had only been to injure a Sunset member, not to kill someone. 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. 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. Knitting, perhaps? Is that why Junior was targeted? Five men approached, including Manuel, weapons in hand. Witnesses say these two police officers stood by watching the scene. Diego Suero leaving the 48th Precinct in the Bronx. The injured teen was seen stumbling inside the bodega before exiting and making a run for the hospital. Dr. Rodriguez said its possible if pressure was applied to the wound and Junior was brought to the hospital earlier, he could have survived. "Justice for Junior" has become a rallying cry. The jury, comprised of 11 women and one man, reached the verdict Friday after going into deliberations Thursday. 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. 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. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Join Nancy Grace for her new online video series designed to help you protect what you love most your children. Parked outside the bodega are the cars that chased Junior. Then he walked toward Adams Place, where he sometimes met with friends. Last Friday, five men were convicted of murder in the first degree for the killing of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman Feliz in June 2018. AP Bronx gangbangers were given the order to inflict "any kind of damage". 2023 Breaking Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Martin Goldberg, defense attorney for Jose Muniz who once cried in court during his arraignment said his client was made the poster boy for Juniors horrific death, because Muniz was seen carrying a machete. The indicted are due back in court Oct. 25. Its 11:39. 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. Guzman-Feliz had been part of the NYPD's Explorers program, a group for youths interested in a law enforcement career. 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. We dont know. Its alleged that defendant Jonaiki Martinez Estrella plunged the knife into Juniors neck near the end of the 20-second attack. 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. Does An In Depth Analysis Predicting SCOTUS Decisions Help You Wind Down? They said their subsets, called Los Sures and Bad Boys, abided by a strict code of conduct. The 2-year-old boy was shot around 12:16 p.m . 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. A teenager hunted down and dragged from a New York City bodega, then swarmed by attackers outside. Toni Messina has tried over 100 cases and has been practicing criminal law and immigration since 1990. 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. 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. Junior then comes back to the store bloodied. LexisNexis Brief Analysis produces powerful, near-instant legal argumentation insights using the power of AI. If you have a knife, you stab. Forsyth County prosecutors rested their case Tuesday morning. Nine others charged in the killing are awaiting trial. People visit murder site to mourn the death of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz in Bronx in New York, United States on June 27, 2018. . There, leaders passed around cellphone pictures of various Sunset members and asked the returning soldiers to identify the person they stabbed. 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. 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. We're about five years off of Best Buy having a 'Legal Troubleshooting' department, aren't we? A GRAPHIC VIEW OF HIS NECK! (No one claims responsibility.) Surveillance video shows Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz being dragged from the Cruz and Chiky grocery store in the Bronx on June 20, 2018. 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 mural outside of the bodega where Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz was attacked bears his birth and death dates: 2002 and 2018. (Obtained by New York Daily News ). But the owner appears to direct him away. She described, in heartbreaking detail, how Guzman-Feliz looked up at her after the attack and motioned her to call 911. 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. How do you protect your children from predators? This 15-year-old boy, moments before death, fought like hell to get away, said Dolan. The family of Junior had mixed emotions after the verdicts were announced, but Guzman's brother said ultimately, "justice was served. Only someone in the gang would know the response. 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. 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. But a leading police theory is the attackers mistakenly believed Junior was in a rival gang. Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue. 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. Kevin Alvarez, third from left, and Elvin Garcia, both members of the Trinitarios gang, appearing before a judge in 2018. But I understand why the People adopted the Junior-as-saint story. Do not sell my information. All five defendants were found guilty of murder in first and second degree, as well as conspiracy and gang assault charges. And on the night before Juniors murder, he had witnessed another stabbing at Adams Place. Closing arguments continue in the murder trial of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz. UPDATE! This Tool Can Help. But some of the most powerful evidence came from two gang members involved in the attack who testified for the prosecution in return for lenient sentences: Kevin Alvarez, 20, and Michael Reyes, 20. Five gangbangers are on trial for the murder of the 15-year-old in the tragic case of mistaken identity. 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. At 11:35, a security camera films four cars driving slowly past the stoop where Juniors friend and some others were sitting. He was then stabbed and hacked to death with machetes by several attackers after being mistakenly identified. Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. 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. Get notified about exclusive offers every week! Two of the clips. He gave a coded gang response when asked a question by a Trinitarios gang member driving by.