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On June 20, 2018, 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz was killed by members of the Dominican gang Trinitario in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx. The death occurred in a case of mistaken identity. Public outrage arose when graphic video of the killing began to circulate on the Internet. Twelve suspects, all members of the Trinitario gang, have been arrested in connection with Guzman-Feliz's death.

Death

On June 20, 2018, at 10:30 p.m. (EDT), 15-year-old Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz left his apartment to loan a friend five dollars. While out, he noticed four vehicles and became alarmed. He began to run and was chased by gang members occupying the vehicles for several blocks. Eventually, Guzman-Feliz sought refuge in a bodega at Bathgate Avenue and East 183rd Street in Belmont, Bronx, near his residence. Five members of the Dominican gang Trinitario followed him into the bodega, where they then dragged him onto the sidewalk in front of the store where three others were waiting. Store owners and others witnessed the attack; the bodega's owner tried to hide Guzman-Feliz behind the counter, after initially thinking he was trying to rob the store.

The incident was captured on CCTV video inside the shop, as well as on cell phone video taken from an overhead angle by a resident of one of the building's upper floors. The cell phone video shows a dozen or more males arriving and departing at the scene. Bodega surveillance footage shows several men stabbing Guzman-Feliz with large knives and machetes. He then goes back into the store, but is told to go to nearby St. Barnabas Hospital, since the emergency call was taking so long. Guzman-Feliz then stumbles out of the bodega and runs east on 183rd Street toward St. Barnabas Hospital, a few blocks away, but collapses before he is able to reach the hospital. Cell phone footage shows Guzman-Feliz collapsed on a step at a security booth near the hospital entrance. Witnesses who know the victim scream frantically, hold cloths to his wounds, and attempt to console him in his dying moments. Guzman-Feliz died minutes after the attack at the bodega. Two police officers were standing nearby, but allegedly did little to help.

According to the boyfriend of Guzman-Feliz's sister, a Trinitario gang leader on Snapchat stated that the killing was a case of mistaken identity. The incident was purportedly sparked by a sex video involving a gang member's niece and a curly-haired male teenager, who looked very similar to Guzman-Feliz. The gang apologized for the killing to the victim's family on social media. In addition, the gang leader kicked the killers out of the gang as a result of this mistaken identity killing.

A hashtag, #justiceforjunior, was created and went viral on social media outlets such as Twitter and Instagram. Public outrage arose when the graphic video of Guzman-Feliz's killing began to circulate on the Internet. Police tip lines received a "torrent" of calls from witnesses and other people who wished to identify the suspects. Officers' posts on Twitter and Instagram were shared and viewed over 100,000 times.

Victim

Lesandro Guzman-Feliz (November 11, 2002 – June 20, 2018), known as "Junior", was 15 years old at the time of his death. His family includes: his father, Lisandro Guzman; his mother, Leandra Feliz; his older sister, Genesis Collado-Feliz; and his brother, Manuel Ortiz. He attended the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health & Science Charter School, where he was a sophomore.

Guzman-Feliz aspired to become a detective and was a member of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) Explorers program, a group for youths interested in law enforcement careers. After his death, the NYPD established a scholarship in Guzman-Feliz's name.

His funeral, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Church, was attended by thousands. Pallbearers wore New York Yankees jerseys as a nod to Guzman-Feliz's favorite baseball team. He is interred in Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the Bronx.

Suspects

Twelve suspects have been arrested in connection with Guzman-Feliz's death. All are members of the Dominican gang Trinitario.

• Kevin Alvarez, age 19
• Luis Cabrara-Santos, age 25
• Daniel Fernandez, age 21
• Elvin Garcia, age 23
• Antonio Hernandez-Santiago, age 24
• Jonaiki Martinez-Estrella, age 24
• Jose Muniz, age 21
• Danilo Payamps-Pacheco, age 21
• Gabriel Ramirez-Concepcion, age 26
• Manuel Rivera, age 18
• Diego Suero, age 29
• Jose Taverez, age 21

Police allege Suero to be the ringleader, who ordered the murder of Guzman-Feliz.

Police also said that Fernandez was the one who delivered the fatal blow to Guzman-Feliz.

Four of the suspects (Fernandez, Muniz, Rivera, and Rodriguez) are incarcerated at Rikers Island and have been receiving death threats, even from other members of the Trinitario gang. As a result, they have been segregated from other prisoners and have been receiving heightened security protection at the jail.

See also

• Crime in New York City

References

1. "'His Dream Was To Be A Police Officer:' Friends, Family Mourn Teen Fatally Stabbed In Apparent Case Of Mistaken Identity In The Bronx". CBS New York. June 23, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
2. Murphy, Mary (July 2, 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Videos public hasn't seen show 'Junior' was chased for blocks before he was trapped in Bronx bodega". WPIX 11 New York. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
3. Kim, CeFaan (June 24, 2018). "Family calls for boycott of bodega where teen was fatally stabbed". ABC7 New York. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
4. Villeda, Ray (June 29, 2018). "Bodega Owner Tearfully Recalls Machete Victim: 'So Scared'". NBC New York. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
5. "The moment a teen is pulled out of a store and fatally stabbed". New York Post. June 22, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
6. Norman, Greg (June 26, 2018). "Bronx teen denied help as he bled to death inside bodega, disturbing video shows". Fox News. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
7. "NYPD reviewing video of Guzman-Feliz collapsing outside hospital". News 12 The Bronx. June 29, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
8. Parascandola, Rocco; Rayman, Graham; Tracy, Thomas (June 28, 2018). "NYPD probing whether cops sat by as dying teen bled out in Bronx machete attack". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
9. "Gang leader 'sorry' after innocent teen is butchered in street". New York Post. June 23, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
10. Rayman, Graham; Light, Mikey (June 23, 2018). "Murderous gang apologizes for brutal machete slaying of Bronx teen, victim's relative says". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
11. "'Disgusted' by Video of Fatal Stabbing of Teen, Callers Flood Police Tip Line". The New York Times. June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
12. "Lesandro Guzman-Feliz Bio, Biography, Age, Sister,Mother, Stabbing Video and Death (15 Years Old) - Glob Intel | Web/Systems Development | SEO & Data Analytics". Glob Intel | Web/Systems Development | SEO & Data Analytics. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
13. Wicker, Jewel. "Hundreds Gathered at a Bronx Bodega to Remember Slain Teen". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
14. "Friends, family honor the life of Lesandro Guzman-Feliz". News 12. June 27, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
15. FOX. "Farewell to 'Junior': Funeral for slain Bronx teen". WTXF. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
16. "NYPD to honor slain Bronx teen with scholarship in his name". New York Post. 2018-06-29. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
17. Wicker, Jewel. "Thousands of People Attended Bronx Teen Lesandro Guzman Feliz's Funeral". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
18. Hundreds attend funeral for innocent teen viciously killed by gang from The New York Post June 27, 2018
19. ^ "Eleventh suspect arrested in killing of Bronx teen". New York Post. 2018-07-06. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
20. Murphy, Mary; Cavallier, Andrea (July 9, 2018). "12th – and final – suspect wanted in 'Junior' killing arrested in Connecticut". WPIX 11 New York. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
21. "8th arrest in fatal stabbing of Bronx teenager outside bodega". CBS News. June 26, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
22. 'Murderer!': Mom of Bronx teen killed in machete attack screams at his alleged killers in court as they plead not guilty and cops reveal the 15-year-old was slayed because he was mistaken for a gang member and NOT because of a sex tape
23. "'Everybody wants a piece' of jailed gangbangers accused of killing Bronx teen". New York Post. 2018-07-03. Retrieved 2018-07-11.

External links

• Lesandro Guzman-Feliz at Find a Grave

• 2018 murders in the United States
• Crime in New York City
• Filmed killings