Junior was an awesome kid. Loved by all who knew him. His ambitions were big including becoming a proud member of the NYPD having enrolled in the NYPD Explorer program. Junior loved his music and could dance better then anyone. He loved all kinds of music and you could catch him singing some of his favorite tunes. Junior was an avid online gamer and played mostly first person games. Junior loved his New York Yankees! He loved going out to eat with his family or just staying home. Junior's love for family and friends was second to none and always putting everyone first before himself. Junior leaves behind his mother Leandra Feliz, father Lisandro Guzman, sister Genesis Collado-Feliz and bother Manuel Ortiz. On Monday June 21, 2021 Junior was posthumous promoted from NYPD Explorer to deputy chief of the NYPD's Youth Explorers Program. Junior's favorite Pizza http://pizzastudiony.com/
Please visit Junior's GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/k97bf-justice-for-junior and help his family out with anything you can.∼
Please scroll to the bottom to leave a kind note and token of affection.
Update! October 11, 2019:
Five of 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz's attackers get life sentences for Bronx murder
The five gangbangers convicted in the vicious Bronx slaying of teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz were sentenced Friday to up to life behind bars.
Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 25, was the first to be handed down the hefty sentence of life in prison without parole in a Bronx courtroom by Judge Robert Neary.
Co-defendants Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 25, Jose Muniz, 23, and Elvin Garcia, 25, were each hit with a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The other gang member, 19-year-old Manuel Rivera, was given a slightly lesser sentence of 23 years to life behind bars.
The sentences — which were all handed down separately — come more than a year after the heinous June 20, 2018 machete and knife killing of the 15-year-old rocked the city.
Full story: https://nypost.com/2019/10/11/lesandro-junior-guzman-feliz-attacker-gets-life-in-prison-without-parole/?fbclid=IwAR37UvCmHi6OgLs7lqs9-yiBr9KnYzSKk9e1j-QwWVfpn0a9LM8z2isf-9Q
UPDATE! An 14th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case
Police Make 14th Arrest NYPD Explorer's Murder
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.
UPDATE! An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On August 27 2018 Pix 11 reported:
'Justice for Junior': 13th suspect arrested in slaying of Bronx teen at bodega
NEW YORK — A 13th suspect has been arrested in the knife-and-machete death of Bronx teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, police said Sunday.
Ronald Urena, 29, was charged with murder, manslaughter, gang assault, conspiracy and criminal possession of a weapon.
Urena, who was arrested at about 6 p.m., was not with the group when Guzman-Feliz was slain in a brutal attack that was a case of mistaken identity.
Police told PIX11 that Urena was present at a meeting of suspected Trinitarios members when an order was given to assault a member of a rival set within the gang. They apparently targeted Guzman-Feliz after he became startled by seeing a four-vehicle convoy that was cruising behind St. Barnabas Hospital.
Detectives said Diego Suero, a 29-year-old man also in custody, was the leader who gave the order. Urena is accused of being part of a long chase that ended with Guzman-Feliz running into a deli on Bathgate Avenue.
The group of alleged Trinitarios gang members chased Guzman-Feliz into the bodega on 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue then dragged him back outside and attacked the teen with knives and a machete.
The teen suffered a lethal slash wound to his throat and stumbled back into the bodega. He was pointed toward the door, and left, running toward a nearby hospital. The teen collapsed on the way and died outside.
The teen's shocking death sparked the "Justice for Junior" movement and has attracted international attention.
While being walked by police Sunday night, Urena told PIX11 in Spanish that he is innocent. He said he's not a gang member and that he doesn't know the other men arrested. Urena also asked his sister to take care of his daughter.
"I want to say thank you again," Leandra Feliz told PIX11 after she learned of the latest arrest in her son's slaying. "To get justice for my son, this is God working."
In addition to Urena, these individuals — all accused members of the Trinitarios gang — are in custody in connection with Guzman-Feliz's murder:
Luis Cabrera Santos, 25
Danilo Payamps Pacheco, 21
Danel Fernandez, 21
Jose Muniz, 21
Manuel Rivera, 18
Santiago Rodriguez, 24
Kevin Alvarez, 19
Elvin Garcia, 23
Joniki Martinez, 24
Jose Taverez, 21
Diego Suero, 29
Gabriel Ramirez Concepcion, 26
In July, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea pledged the gang would "feel the wrath of the NYPD."
"We're not going to rest until anyone responsible, having any role whatsoever in that tragic incident, is brought to justice," Shea said at the time.
He was among a group of alleged gang members who, while out cruising for members of rival gangs, spotted 15-year-old Guzman-Feliz on June 20 and chased the teen.
UPDATE! An 12th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On July 29 2017 CNN wrote"
12 indicted for death of teen in case of mistaken identity
(CNN)New York authorities announced the indictments of 12 men in the killing of an unarmed teen who was attacked in a case of mistaken identity in the Bronx.
All 12 were arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who was mistaken for a rival gang member and whose assault was caught on surveillance video on June 20, officials said Wednesday.
They face charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree conspiracy, first-degree gang assault and other charges. Five of those members were indicted on first-degree murder, officials said.
Investigators said the 12 men, who were part of the "Los Sures" set of the Trinitarios gang, gathered at the Boston Road home of Diego Suero, the alleged leader of the group. They were plotting to commit violence against another rival group, also under the Trinitarios gang, known as "Sunset," officials said.
"This was an intragang conflict where the defendants allegedly plotted to attack an upstart set of the Trinitarios and allegedly committed a crime that has shocked people everywhere for its brutality," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark at a news conference on Wednesday.
On May 29 2018 The New York Post wrote:
NYPD to honor slain Bronx teen with scholarship in his name
Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the Bronx teen whose dream of becoming a police detective was cut short when he was slaughtered by a gang, will be honored by an NYPD scholarship in his name.
The 15-year-old was in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for teens interested in careers in law enforcement, and dreamed of becoming a detective.
The fund will provide two NYPD Explorer high school graduates with up to $5,000 each in tuition reimbursement and school supplies upon enrollment in an accredited school for the fall semester.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "Junior's life was taken too soon, but it will not be in vain."
"This scholarship will help more young New Yorkers learn about law enforcement and public service, and ensure that Junior's legacy will never be forgotten," he said.
The scholarship funds will come from the New York City Police Foundation.
"There is no better way to honor a young man whose stated dream was to become one of the greatest detectives in the world than by establishing a memorial scholarship in his honor," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.
"The work Explorers do makes our communities stronger, it makes our neighborhoods safer, and it makes our police department better. The people we serve, in every corner of New York City, will surely be the largest beneficiaries in all of this," he added.
The scholarship was announced Thursday, the day after the funeral for Guzman-Feliz, who was attacked outside a bodega June 20 and slashed in the neck.
Eight suspects have been arrested in the horrific case of mistaken identity.
Susan Birnbaum, head of the police foundation, said: "Out of this tragedy, future students like Junior will be able to pursue their dreams and, just as importantly, his name will live on."
On June 27 2018 the Daily New wrote:
More than a thousand mourners packed into Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Belmont, the Bronx, on Wednesday morning to pay their last respects to Lesandro (Junior) Guzman-Feliz — the 15-year-old whose vicious murder last week at the hands of a machete-wielding street gang was felt nationwide.
Pallbearers, included the victim's father, Lisandro Guzman, wore Yankees jerseys as they honored the innocent teen who had dreamed of someday becoming a police officer and fighting crime.
Lesandro's funeral procession made its way from the Ortiz Funeral Home at the Grand Concourse and E. 192nd St. toward the E. 187th St. church at 9:30 a.m. There, Lesandro's family packed the first five pews. His fellow cadets of the NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers were in uniform, tears streaming down many of their faces.
The teen's body lay in a closed casket at the altar, draped in a white sheet. Many mourners wore T-shirts, with his photo and messages like "Forever 15" and a passage reading, "Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and always near."
"Again and again, we have gone through so many tragedies in this country and in the Bronx," the Rev. David Guzman told the congregation in Spanish, urging young people in attendance to take a stand against senseless violence.
"To protect the life of our people. To be on watch all the time. To prevent another tragedy. It's possible, brothers and sisters, to prevent it. We have friends — social media — we know how," he said. "Young people here, take courage."
"As we say in New York," he continued, "if you see something, say something — don't just take the video, do something."
Junior leaves behind his father Lisandro Guzman, mother Leandra Feliz and older sister Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz.
On May 24 2018 The New York Post Wrote:
Teen stabbing victim dreamed of becoming a cop
This is the budding New York police officer hacked to death by a brutal street gang when they mistook him for an intended target.
In a photo obtained by The Post, a smiling Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, 15, wears an NYPD Explorers jacket proudly as he looks at the camera.
The curly-haired teen was enrolled in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for youths ages 14-20 who are interested in a career in law enforcement, police sources said.
Guzman-Feliz had dreamed of becoming a police officer since he was 5-years-old, according to his distraught mother.
On Wednesday night, five men dragged the boy out of a bodega by his hood and stabbed him to death. His attackers are believed to have been members of the Trinitarios street gang, according to police sources.
The murderers may have been seeking revenge on a similar-looking youth, for making a raunchy sex video featuring one of the gangster's relatives – but attacked Guzman-Feliz instead.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday but Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea vowed to get justice for the teen.
"He was never going to give up on his dream of being an NYPD detective & WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP ON HIM," Shea wrote on Twitter, with the hashtag #JusticeForJunior.
The NYPD 48th Precinct wrote they were reviewing "each and every" tip and piece of information sent in.
"Working around the clock 2 make sure those responsible are held accountable. Our thoughts & prayers are w the friends & family of Lesandro," they tweeted.
Gangland style killing:
He was the son of Lisandro Guzman and Leandra Feliz and the younger brother of Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the 15-year-old who was killed last week outside a bodega in the Bronx, allegedly by a group of Trinitarios gang memberswith dreams of becoming an NYPD detective -- cut tragically short last week when he was stabbed to death outside a Bronx bodega in an apparent case of mistaken identity. The teen's killing sparked widespread community outrage and spurred calls of #JusticeforJunior. So far, eight suspected gang members have been arrested in the case. Funeral services began at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in the Bronx, according to the church. The funeral could be seen live on with machetes, was honored by the New York City Police Department on Friday with an annual scholarship in his name. The scholarship, named the New York City Police Foundation Lesandro Guzman-Feliz Memorial College Fund, will provide a tuition reimbursement of $5,000 to two NYPD Explorer high school graduates continuing their effort to join the police force. Overnight, an eighth suspect, Elvin Garcia, was charged in connection with the 15-year-old's death. It happened as six other suspects -- Jose Muniz, 21; Jose Taverez, 21; Manuel Rivera, 18; Danel Fernandez, 21; Joniki Martinez, 24; and Santiago Rodriguez, 24, all reputed members of a ruthless Dominican gang -- are being shipped back to the Bronx from New Jersey where they were arrested. Another suspect, Kevin Alvarez, 19, was charged on Monday. He pleaded not guilty. All face the same charges including murder, manslaughter and gang assault. Meanwhile, sadness has grown into anger in the Bronx. Guzman-Feliz was dragged from a bodega near his home in the Belmont section of the Bronx on June 20 and stabbed and slashed with a machete and knives in an apparent case of mistaken identity. He staggered back into the bodega for help then, after not getting the help he so desperately needed, sprinted toward a hospital three blocks away. He collapsed in the street, mortally wounded. The mother of the 15-year-old victim spoke out Monday as thousands gathered to pay respects to her son at his wake. "My heart is broken. He was a sweet kid with a very good heart," Feliz said. On Tuesday night, members of the community retraced his desperate and final steps in his Belmont neighborhood during a candlelight vigil and march. A petition has circulated calling for Guzman-Feliz to be buried with NYPD honors. The teen was a member of the NYPD Explorers Program and aspired to become a detective. A separate petition has circulated calling for the bodega where Guzman-Feliz was attacked to be permanently closed.
Please visit Junior's GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/k97bf-justice-for-junior and help his family out with anything you can.∼
Please scroll to the bottom to leave a kind note and token of affection.
Update! October 11, 2019:
Five of 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz's attackers get life sentences for Bronx murder
The five gangbangers convicted in the vicious Bronx slaying of teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz were sentenced Friday to up to life behind bars.
Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 25, was the first to be handed down the hefty sentence of life in prison without parole in a Bronx courtroom by Judge Robert Neary.
Co-defendants Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 25, Jose Muniz, 23, and Elvin Garcia, 25, were each hit with a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The other gang member, 19-year-old Manuel Rivera, was given a slightly lesser sentence of 23 years to life behind bars.
The sentences — which were all handed down separately — come more than a year after the heinous June 20, 2018 machete and knife killing of the 15-year-old rocked the city.
Full story: https://nypost.com/2019/10/11/lesandro-junior-guzman-feliz-attacker-gets-life-in-prison-without-parole/?fbclid=IwAR37UvCmHi6OgLs7lqs9-yiBr9KnYzSKk9e1j-QwWVfpn0a9LM8z2isf-9Q
UPDATE! An 14th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case
Police Make 14th Arrest NYPD Explorer's Murder
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.
UPDATE! An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On August 27 2018 Pix 11 reported:
'Justice for Junior': 13th suspect arrested in slaying of Bronx teen at bodega
NEW YORK — A 13th suspect has been arrested in the knife-and-machete death of Bronx teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, police said Sunday.
Ronald Urena, 29, was charged with murder, manslaughter, gang assault, conspiracy and criminal possession of a weapon.
Urena, who was arrested at about 6 p.m., was not with the group when Guzman-Feliz was slain in a brutal attack that was a case of mistaken identity.
Police told PIX11 that Urena was present at a meeting of suspected Trinitarios members when an order was given to assault a member of a rival set within the gang. They apparently targeted Guzman-Feliz after he became startled by seeing a four-vehicle convoy that was cruising behind St. Barnabas Hospital.
Detectives said Diego Suero, a 29-year-old man also in custody, was the leader who gave the order. Urena is accused of being part of a long chase that ended with Guzman-Feliz running into a deli on Bathgate Avenue.
The group of alleged Trinitarios gang members chased Guzman-Feliz into the bodega on 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue then dragged him back outside and attacked the teen with knives and a machete.
The teen suffered a lethal slash wound to his throat and stumbled back into the bodega. He was pointed toward the door, and left, running toward a nearby hospital. The teen collapsed on the way and died outside.
The teen's shocking death sparked the "Justice for Junior" movement and has attracted international attention.
While being walked by police Sunday night, Urena told PIX11 in Spanish that he is innocent. He said he's not a gang member and that he doesn't know the other men arrested. Urena also asked his sister to take care of his daughter.
"I want to say thank you again," Leandra Feliz told PIX11 after she learned of the latest arrest in her son's slaying. "To get justice for my son, this is God working."
In addition to Urena, these individuals — all accused members of the Trinitarios gang — are in custody in connection with Guzman-Feliz's murder:
Luis Cabrera Santos, 25
Danilo Payamps Pacheco, 21
Danel Fernandez, 21
Jose Muniz, 21
Manuel Rivera, 18
Santiago Rodriguez, 24
Kevin Alvarez, 19
Elvin Garcia, 23
Joniki Martinez, 24
Jose Taverez, 21
Diego Suero, 29
Gabriel Ramirez Concepcion, 26
In July, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea pledged the gang would "feel the wrath of the NYPD."
"We're not going to rest until anyone responsible, having any role whatsoever in that tragic incident, is brought to justice," Shea said at the time.
He was among a group of alleged gang members who, while out cruising for members of rival gangs, spotted 15-year-old Guzman-Feliz on June 20 and chased the teen.
UPDATE! An 12th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On July 29 2017 CNN wrote"
12 indicted for death of teen in case of mistaken identity
(CNN)New York authorities announced the indictments of 12 men in the killing of an unarmed teen who was attacked in a case of mistaken identity in the Bronx.
All 12 were arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who was mistaken for a rival gang member and whose assault was caught on surveillance video on June 20, officials said Wednesday.
They face charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree conspiracy, first-degree gang assault and other charges. Five of those members were indicted on first-degree murder, officials said.
Investigators said the 12 men, who were part of the "Los Sures" set of the Trinitarios gang, gathered at the Boston Road home of Diego Suero, the alleged leader of the group. They were plotting to commit violence against another rival group, also under the Trinitarios gang, known as "Sunset," officials said.
"This was an intragang conflict where the defendants allegedly plotted to attack an upstart set of the Trinitarios and allegedly committed a crime that has shocked people everywhere for its brutality," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark at a news conference on Wednesday.
On May 29 2018 The New York Post wrote:
NYPD to honor slain Bronx teen with scholarship in his name
Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the Bronx teen whose dream of becoming a police detective was cut short when he was slaughtered by a gang, will be honored by an NYPD scholarship in his name.
The 15-year-old was in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for teens interested in careers in law enforcement, and dreamed of becoming a detective.
The fund will provide two NYPD Explorer high school graduates with up to $5,000 each in tuition reimbursement and school supplies upon enrollment in an accredited school for the fall semester.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "Junior's life was taken too soon, but it will not be in vain."
"This scholarship will help more young New Yorkers learn about law enforcement and public service, and ensure that Junior's legacy will never be forgotten," he said.
The scholarship funds will come from the New York City Police Foundation.
"There is no better way to honor a young man whose stated dream was to become one of the greatest detectives in the world than by establishing a memorial scholarship in his honor," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.
"The work Explorers do makes our communities stronger, it makes our neighborhoods safer, and it makes our police department better. The people we serve, in every corner of New York City, will surely be the largest beneficiaries in all of this," he added.
The scholarship was announced Thursday, the day after the funeral for Guzman-Feliz, who was attacked outside a bodega June 20 and slashed in the neck.
Eight suspects have been arrested in the horrific case of mistaken identity.
Susan Birnbaum, head of the police foundation, said: "Out of this tragedy, future students like Junior will be able to pursue their dreams and, just as importantly, his name will live on."
On June 27 2018 the Daily New wrote:
More than a thousand mourners packed into Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Belmont, the Bronx, on Wednesday morning to pay their last respects to Lesandro (Junior) Guzman-Feliz — the 15-year-old whose vicious murder last week at the hands of a machete-wielding street gang was felt nationwide.
Pallbearers, included the victim's father, Lisandro Guzman, wore Yankees jerseys as they honored the innocent teen who had dreamed of someday becoming a police officer and fighting crime.
Lesandro's funeral procession made its way from the Ortiz Funeral Home at the Grand Concourse and E. 192nd St. toward the E. 187th St. church at 9:30 a.m. There, Lesandro's family packed the first five pews. His fellow cadets of the NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers were in uniform, tears streaming down many of their faces.
The teen's body lay in a closed casket at the altar, draped in a white sheet. Many mourners wore T-shirts, with his photo and messages like "Forever 15" and a passage reading, "Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and always near."
"Again and again, we have gone through so many tragedies in this country and in the Bronx," the Rev. David Guzman told the congregation in Spanish, urging young people in attendance to take a stand against senseless violence.
"To protect the life of our people. To be on watch all the time. To prevent another tragedy. It's possible, brothers and sisters, to prevent it. We have friends — social media — we know how," he said. "Young people here, take courage."
"As we say in New York," he continued, "if you see something, say something — don't just take the video, do something."
Junior leaves behind his father Lisandro Guzman, mother Leandra Feliz and older sister Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz.
On May 24 2018 The New York Post Wrote:
Teen stabbing victim dreamed of becoming a cop
This is the budding New York police officer hacked to death by a brutal street gang when they mistook him for an intended target.
In a photo obtained by The Post, a smiling Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, 15, wears an NYPD Explorers jacket proudly as he looks at the camera.
The curly-haired teen was enrolled in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for youths ages 14-20 who are interested in a career in law enforcement, police sources said.
Guzman-Feliz had dreamed of becoming a police officer since he was 5-years-old, according to his distraught mother.
On Wednesday night, five men dragged the boy out of a bodega by his hood and stabbed him to death. His attackers are believed to have been members of the Trinitarios street gang, according to police sources.
The murderers may have been seeking revenge on a similar-looking youth, for making a raunchy sex video featuring one of the gangster's relatives – but attacked Guzman-Feliz instead.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday but Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea vowed to get justice for the teen.
"He was never going to give up on his dream of being an NYPD detective & WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP ON HIM," Shea wrote on Twitter, with the hashtag #JusticeForJunior.
The NYPD 48th Precinct wrote they were reviewing "each and every" tip and piece of information sent in.
"Working around the clock 2 make sure those responsible are held accountable. Our thoughts & prayers are w the friends & family of Lesandro," they tweeted.
Gangland style killing:
He was the son of Lisandro Guzman and Leandra Feliz and the younger brother of Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the 15-year-old who was killed last week outside a bodega in the Bronx, allegedly by a group of Trinitarios gang memberswith dreams of becoming an NYPD detective -- cut tragically short last week when he was stabbed to death outside a Bronx bodega in an apparent case of mistaken identity. The teen's killing sparked widespread community outrage and spurred calls of #JusticeforJunior. So far, eight suspected gang members have been arrested in the case. Funeral services began at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in the Bronx, according to the church. The funeral could be seen live on with machetes, was honored by the New York City Police Department on Friday with an annual scholarship in his name. The scholarship, named the New York City Police Foundation Lesandro Guzman-Feliz Memorial College Fund, will provide a tuition reimbursement of $5,000 to two NYPD Explorer high school graduates continuing their effort to join the police force. Overnight, an eighth suspect, Elvin Garcia, was charged in connection with the 15-year-old's death. It happened as six other suspects -- Jose Muniz, 21; Jose Taverez, 21; Manuel Rivera, 18; Danel Fernandez, 21; Joniki Martinez, 24; and Santiago Rodriguez, 24, all reputed members of a ruthless Dominican gang -- are being shipped back to the Bronx from New Jersey where they were arrested. Another suspect, Kevin Alvarez, 19, was charged on Monday. He pleaded not guilty. All face the same charges including murder, manslaughter and gang assault. Meanwhile, sadness has grown into anger in the Bronx. Guzman-Feliz was dragged from a bodega near his home in the Belmont section of the Bronx on June 20 and stabbed and slashed with a machete and knives in an apparent case of mistaken identity. He staggered back into the bodega for help then, after not getting the help he so desperately needed, sprinted toward a hospital three blocks away. He collapsed in the street, mortally wounded. The mother of the 15-year-old victim spoke out Monday as thousands gathered to pay respects to her son at his wake. "My heart is broken. He was a sweet kid with a very good heart," Feliz said. On Tuesday night, members of the community retraced his desperate and final steps in his Belmont neighborhood during a candlelight vigil and march. A petition has circulated calling for Guzman-Feliz to be buried with NYPD honors. The teen was a member of the NYPD Explorers Program and aspired to become a detective. A separate petition has circulated calling for the bodega where Guzman-Feliz was attacked to be permanently closed.
Junior was an awesome kid. Loved by all who knew him. His ambitions were big including becoming a proud member of the NYPD having enrolled in the NYPD Explorer program. Junior loved his music and could dance better then anyone. He loved all kinds of music and you could catch him singing some of his favorite tunes. Junior was an avid online gamer and played mostly first person games. Junior loved his New York Yankees! He loved going out to eat with his family or just staying home. Junior's love for family and friends was second to none and always putting everyone first before himself. Junior leaves behind his mother Leandra Feliz, father Lisandro Guzman, sister Genesis Collado-Feliz and bother Manuel Ortiz. On Monday June 21, 2021 Junior was posthumous promoted from NYPD Explorer to deputy chief of the NYPD's Youth Explorers Program. Junior's favorite Pizza http://pizzastudiony.com/
Please visit Junior's GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/k97bf-justice-for-junior and help his family out with anything you can.∼
Please scroll to the bottom to leave a kind note and token of affection.
Update! October 11, 2019:
Five of 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz's attackers get life sentences for Bronx murder
The five gangbangers convicted in the vicious Bronx slaying of teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz were sentenced Friday to up to life behind bars.
Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 25, was the first to be handed down the hefty sentence of life in prison without parole in a Bronx courtroom by Judge Robert Neary.
Co-defendants Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 25, Jose Muniz, 23, and Elvin Garcia, 25, were each hit with a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The other gang member, 19-year-old Manuel Rivera, was given a slightly lesser sentence of 23 years to life behind bars.
The sentences — which were all handed down separately — come more than a year after the heinous June 20, 2018 machete and knife killing of the 15-year-old rocked the city.
Full story: https://nypost.com/2019/10/11/lesandro-junior-guzman-feliz-attacker-gets-life-in-prison-without-parole/?fbclid=IwAR37UvCmHi6OgLs7lqs9-yiBr9KnYzSKk9e1j-QwWVfpn0a9LM8z2isf-9Q
UPDATE! An 14th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case
Police Make 14th Arrest NYPD Explorer's Murder
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.
UPDATE! An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On August 27 2018 Pix 11 reported:
'Justice for Junior': 13th suspect arrested in slaying of Bronx teen at bodega
NEW YORK — A 13th suspect has been arrested in the knife-and-machete death of Bronx teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, police said Sunday.
Ronald Urena, 29, was charged with murder, manslaughter, gang assault, conspiracy and criminal possession of a weapon.
Urena, who was arrested at about 6 p.m., was not with the group when Guzman-Feliz was slain in a brutal attack that was a case of mistaken identity.
Police told PIX11 that Urena was present at a meeting of suspected Trinitarios members when an order was given to assault a member of a rival set within the gang. They apparently targeted Guzman-Feliz after he became startled by seeing a four-vehicle convoy that was cruising behind St. Barnabas Hospital.
Detectives said Diego Suero, a 29-year-old man also in custody, was the leader who gave the order. Urena is accused of being part of a long chase that ended with Guzman-Feliz running into a deli on Bathgate Avenue.
The group of alleged Trinitarios gang members chased Guzman-Feliz into the bodega on 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue then dragged him back outside and attacked the teen with knives and a machete.
The teen suffered a lethal slash wound to his throat and stumbled back into the bodega. He was pointed toward the door, and left, running toward a nearby hospital. The teen collapsed on the way and died outside.
The teen's shocking death sparked the "Justice for Junior" movement and has attracted international attention.
While being walked by police Sunday night, Urena told PIX11 in Spanish that he is innocent. He said he's not a gang member and that he doesn't know the other men arrested. Urena also asked his sister to take care of his daughter.
"I want to say thank you again," Leandra Feliz told PIX11 after she learned of the latest arrest in her son's slaying. "To get justice for my son, this is God working."
In addition to Urena, these individuals — all accused members of the Trinitarios gang — are in custody in connection with Guzman-Feliz's murder:
Luis Cabrera Santos, 25
Danilo Payamps Pacheco, 21
Danel Fernandez, 21
Jose Muniz, 21
Manuel Rivera, 18
Santiago Rodriguez, 24
Kevin Alvarez, 19
Elvin Garcia, 23
Joniki Martinez, 24
Jose Taverez, 21
Diego Suero, 29
Gabriel Ramirez Concepcion, 26
In July, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea pledged the gang would "feel the wrath of the NYPD."
"We're not going to rest until anyone responsible, having any role whatsoever in that tragic incident, is brought to justice," Shea said at the time.
He was among a group of alleged gang members who, while out cruising for members of rival gangs, spotted 15-year-old Guzman-Feliz on June 20 and chased the teen.
UPDATE! An 12th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On July 29 2017 CNN wrote"
12 indicted for death of teen in case of mistaken identity
(CNN)New York authorities announced the indictments of 12 men in the killing of an unarmed teen who was attacked in a case of mistaken identity in the Bronx.
All 12 were arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who was mistaken for a rival gang member and whose assault was caught on surveillance video on June 20, officials said Wednesday.
They face charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree conspiracy, first-degree gang assault and other charges. Five of those members were indicted on first-degree murder, officials said.
Investigators said the 12 men, who were part of the "Los Sures" set of the Trinitarios gang, gathered at the Boston Road home of Diego Suero, the alleged leader of the group. They were plotting to commit violence against another rival group, also under the Trinitarios gang, known as "Sunset," officials said.
"This was an intragang conflict where the defendants allegedly plotted to attack an upstart set of the Trinitarios and allegedly committed a crime that has shocked people everywhere for its brutality," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark at a news conference on Wednesday.
On May 29 2018 The New York Post wrote:
NYPD to honor slain Bronx teen with scholarship in his name
Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the Bronx teen whose dream of becoming a police detective was cut short when he was slaughtered by a gang, will be honored by an NYPD scholarship in his name.
The 15-year-old was in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for teens interested in careers in law enforcement, and dreamed of becoming a detective.
The fund will provide two NYPD Explorer high school graduates with up to $5,000 each in tuition reimbursement and school supplies upon enrollment in an accredited school for the fall semester.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "Junior's life was taken too soon, but it will not be in vain."
"This scholarship will help more young New Yorkers learn about law enforcement and public service, and ensure that Junior's legacy will never be forgotten," he said.
The scholarship funds will come from the New York City Police Foundation.
"There is no better way to honor a young man whose stated dream was to become one of the greatest detectives in the world than by establishing a memorial scholarship in his honor," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.
"The work Explorers do makes our communities stronger, it makes our neighborhoods safer, and it makes our police department better. The people we serve, in every corner of New York City, will surely be the largest beneficiaries in all of this," he added.
The scholarship was announced Thursday, the day after the funeral for Guzman-Feliz, who was attacked outside a bodega June 20 and slashed in the neck.
Eight suspects have been arrested in the horrific case of mistaken identity.
Susan Birnbaum, head of the police foundation, said: "Out of this tragedy, future students like Junior will be able to pursue their dreams and, just as importantly, his name will live on."
On June 27 2018 the Daily New wrote:
More than a thousand mourners packed into Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Belmont, the Bronx, on Wednesday morning to pay their last respects to Lesandro (Junior) Guzman-Feliz — the 15-year-old whose vicious murder last week at the hands of a machete-wielding street gang was felt nationwide.
Pallbearers, included the victim's father, Lisandro Guzman, wore Yankees jerseys as they honored the innocent teen who had dreamed of someday becoming a police officer and fighting crime.
Lesandro's funeral procession made its way from the Ortiz Funeral Home at the Grand Concourse and E. 192nd St. toward the E. 187th St. church at 9:30 a.m. There, Lesandro's family packed the first five pews. His fellow cadets of the NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers were in uniform, tears streaming down many of their faces.
The teen's body lay in a closed casket at the altar, draped in a white sheet. Many mourners wore T-shirts, with his photo and messages like "Forever 15" and a passage reading, "Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and always near."
"Again and again, we have gone through so many tragedies in this country and in the Bronx," the Rev. David Guzman told the congregation in Spanish, urging young people in attendance to take a stand against senseless violence.
"To protect the life of our people. To be on watch all the time. To prevent another tragedy. It's possible, brothers and sisters, to prevent it. We have friends — social media — we know how," he said. "Young people here, take courage."
"As we say in New York," he continued, "if you see something, say something — don't just take the video, do something."
Junior leaves behind his father Lisandro Guzman, mother Leandra Feliz and older sister Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz.
On May 24 2018 The New York Post Wrote:
Teen stabbing victim dreamed of becoming a cop
This is the budding New York police officer hacked to death by a brutal street gang when they mistook him for an intended target.
In a photo obtained by The Post, a smiling Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, 15, wears an NYPD Explorers jacket proudly as he looks at the camera.
The curly-haired teen was enrolled in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for youths ages 14-20 who are interested in a career in law enforcement, police sources said.
Guzman-Feliz had dreamed of becoming a police officer since he was 5-years-old, according to his distraught mother.
On Wednesday night, five men dragged the boy out of a bodega by his hood and stabbed him to death. His attackers are believed to have been members of the Trinitarios street gang, according to police sources.
The murderers may have been seeking revenge on a similar-looking youth, for making a raunchy sex video featuring one of the gangster's relatives – but attacked Guzman-Feliz instead.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday but Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea vowed to get justice for the teen.
"He was never going to give up on his dream of being an NYPD detective & WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP ON HIM," Shea wrote on Twitter, with the hashtag #JusticeForJunior.
The NYPD 48th Precinct wrote they were reviewing "each and every" tip and piece of information sent in.
"Working around the clock 2 make sure those responsible are held accountable. Our thoughts & prayers are w the friends & family of Lesandro," they tweeted.
Gangland style killing:
He was the son of Lisandro Guzman and Leandra Feliz and the younger brother of Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the 15-year-old who was killed last week outside a bodega in the Bronx, allegedly by a group of Trinitarios gang memberswith dreams of becoming an NYPD detective -- cut tragically short last week when he was stabbed to death outside a Bronx bodega in an apparent case of mistaken identity. The teen's killing sparked widespread community outrage and spurred calls of #JusticeforJunior. So far, eight suspected gang members have been arrested in the case. Funeral services began at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in the Bronx, according to the church. The funeral could be seen live on with machetes, was honored by the New York City Police Department on Friday with an annual scholarship in his name. The scholarship, named the New York City Police Foundation Lesandro Guzman-Feliz Memorial College Fund, will provide a tuition reimbursement of $5,000 to two NYPD Explorer high school graduates continuing their effort to join the police force. Overnight, an eighth suspect, Elvin Garcia, was charged in connection with the 15-year-old's death. It happened as six other suspects -- Jose Muniz, 21; Jose Taverez, 21; Manuel Rivera, 18; Danel Fernandez, 21; Joniki Martinez, 24; and Santiago Rodriguez, 24, all reputed members of a ruthless Dominican gang -- are being shipped back to the Bronx from New Jersey where they were arrested. Another suspect, Kevin Alvarez, 19, was charged on Monday. He pleaded not guilty. All face the same charges including murder, manslaughter and gang assault. Meanwhile, sadness has grown into anger in the Bronx. Guzman-Feliz was dragged from a bodega near his home in the Belmont section of the Bronx on June 20 and stabbed and slashed with a machete and knives in an apparent case of mistaken identity. He staggered back into the bodega for help then, after not getting the help he so desperately needed, sprinted toward a hospital three blocks away. He collapsed in the street, mortally wounded. The mother of the 15-year-old victim spoke out Monday as thousands gathered to pay respects to her son at his wake. "My heart is broken. He was a sweet kid with a very good heart," Feliz said. On Tuesday night, members of the community retraced his desperate and final steps in his Belmont neighborhood during a candlelight vigil and march. A petition has circulated calling for Guzman-Feliz to be buried with NYPD honors. The teen was a member of the NYPD Explorers Program and aspired to become a detective. A separate petition has circulated calling for the bodega where Guzman-Feliz was attacked to be permanently closed.
Please visit Junior's GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/k97bf-justice-for-junior and help his family out with anything you can.∼
Please scroll to the bottom to leave a kind note and token of affection.
Update! October 11, 2019:
Five of 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz's attackers get life sentences for Bronx murder
The five gangbangers convicted in the vicious Bronx slaying of teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz were sentenced Friday to up to life behind bars.
Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 25, was the first to be handed down the hefty sentence of life in prison without parole in a Bronx courtroom by Judge Robert Neary.
Co-defendants Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 25, Jose Muniz, 23, and Elvin Garcia, 25, were each hit with a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.
The other gang member, 19-year-old Manuel Rivera, was given a slightly lesser sentence of 23 years to life behind bars.
The sentences — which were all handed down separately — come more than a year after the heinous June 20, 2018 machete and knife killing of the 15-year-old rocked the city.
Full story: https://nypost.com/2019/10/11/lesandro-junior-guzman-feliz-attacker-gets-life-in-prison-without-parole/?fbclid=IwAR37UvCmHi6OgLs7lqs9-yiBr9KnYzSKk9e1j-QwWVfpn0a9LM8z2isf-9Q
UPDATE! An 14th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case
Police Make 14th Arrest NYPD Explorer's Murder
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.
UPDATE! An 13th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On August 27 2018 Pix 11 reported:
'Justice for Junior': 13th suspect arrested in slaying of Bronx teen at bodega
NEW YORK — A 13th suspect has been arrested in the knife-and-machete death of Bronx teen Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, police said Sunday.
Ronald Urena, 29, was charged with murder, manslaughter, gang assault, conspiracy and criminal possession of a weapon.
Urena, who was arrested at about 6 p.m., was not with the group when Guzman-Feliz was slain in a brutal attack that was a case of mistaken identity.
Police told PIX11 that Urena was present at a meeting of suspected Trinitarios members when an order was given to assault a member of a rival set within the gang. They apparently targeted Guzman-Feliz after he became startled by seeing a four-vehicle convoy that was cruising behind St. Barnabas Hospital.
Detectives said Diego Suero, a 29-year-old man also in custody, was the leader who gave the order. Urena is accused of being part of a long chase that ended with Guzman-Feliz running into a deli on Bathgate Avenue.
The group of alleged Trinitarios gang members chased Guzman-Feliz into the bodega on 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue then dragged him back outside and attacked the teen with knives and a machete.
The teen suffered a lethal slash wound to his throat and stumbled back into the bodega. He was pointed toward the door, and left, running toward a nearby hospital. The teen collapsed on the way and died outside.
The teen's shocking death sparked the "Justice for Junior" movement and has attracted international attention.
While being walked by police Sunday night, Urena told PIX11 in Spanish that he is innocent. He said he's not a gang member and that he doesn't know the other men arrested. Urena also asked his sister to take care of his daughter.
"I want to say thank you again," Leandra Feliz told PIX11 after she learned of the latest arrest in her son's slaying. "To get justice for my son, this is God working."
In addition to Urena, these individuals — all accused members of the Trinitarios gang — are in custody in connection with Guzman-Feliz's murder:
Luis Cabrera Santos, 25
Danilo Payamps Pacheco, 21
Danel Fernandez, 21
Jose Muniz, 21
Manuel Rivera, 18
Santiago Rodriguez, 24
Kevin Alvarez, 19
Elvin Garcia, 23
Joniki Martinez, 24
Jose Taverez, 21
Diego Suero, 29
Gabriel Ramirez Concepcion, 26
In July, NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea pledged the gang would "feel the wrath of the NYPD."
"We're not going to rest until anyone responsible, having any role whatsoever in that tragic incident, is brought to justice," Shea said at the time.
He was among a group of alleged gang members who, while out cruising for members of rival gangs, spotted 15-year-old Guzman-Feliz on June 20 and chased the teen.
UPDATE! An 12th suspect has been confirmed arrested in Junior's case.
On July 29 2017 CNN wrote"
12 indicted for death of teen in case of mistaken identity
(CNN)New York authorities announced the indictments of 12 men in the killing of an unarmed teen who was attacked in a case of mistaken identity in the Bronx.
All 12 were arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing of 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, who was mistaken for a rival gang member and whose assault was caught on surveillance video on June 20, officials said Wednesday.
They face charges including second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree conspiracy, first-degree gang assault and other charges. Five of those members were indicted on first-degree murder, officials said.
Investigators said the 12 men, who were part of the "Los Sures" set of the Trinitarios gang, gathered at the Boston Road home of Diego Suero, the alleged leader of the group. They were plotting to commit violence against another rival group, also under the Trinitarios gang, known as "Sunset," officials said.
"This was an intragang conflict where the defendants allegedly plotted to attack an upstart set of the Trinitarios and allegedly committed a crime that has shocked people everywhere for its brutality," said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark at a news conference on Wednesday.
On May 29 2018 The New York Post wrote:
NYPD to honor slain Bronx teen with scholarship in his name
Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the Bronx teen whose dream of becoming a police detective was cut short when he was slaughtered by a gang, will be honored by an NYPD scholarship in his name.
The 15-year-old was in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for teens interested in careers in law enforcement, and dreamed of becoming a detective.
The fund will provide two NYPD Explorer high school graduates with up to $5,000 each in tuition reimbursement and school supplies upon enrollment in an accredited school for the fall semester.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said, "Junior's life was taken too soon, but it will not be in vain."
"This scholarship will help more young New Yorkers learn about law enforcement and public service, and ensure that Junior's legacy will never be forgotten," he said.
The scholarship funds will come from the New York City Police Foundation.
"There is no better way to honor a young man whose stated dream was to become one of the greatest detectives in the world than by establishing a memorial scholarship in his honor," Police Commissioner James O'Neill said.
"The work Explorers do makes our communities stronger, it makes our neighborhoods safer, and it makes our police department better. The people we serve, in every corner of New York City, will surely be the largest beneficiaries in all of this," he added.
The scholarship was announced Thursday, the day after the funeral for Guzman-Feliz, who was attacked outside a bodega June 20 and slashed in the neck.
Eight suspects have been arrested in the horrific case of mistaken identity.
Susan Birnbaum, head of the police foundation, said: "Out of this tragedy, future students like Junior will be able to pursue their dreams and, just as importantly, his name will live on."
On June 27 2018 the Daily New wrote:
More than a thousand mourners packed into Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Belmont, the Bronx, on Wednesday morning to pay their last respects to Lesandro (Junior) Guzman-Feliz — the 15-year-old whose vicious murder last week at the hands of a machete-wielding street gang was felt nationwide.
Pallbearers, included the victim's father, Lisandro Guzman, wore Yankees jerseys as they honored the innocent teen who had dreamed of someday becoming a police officer and fighting crime.
Lesandro's funeral procession made its way from the Ortiz Funeral Home at the Grand Concourse and E. 192nd St. toward the E. 187th St. church at 9:30 a.m. There, Lesandro's family packed the first five pews. His fellow cadets of the NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers were in uniform, tears streaming down many of their faces.
The teen's body lay in a closed casket at the altar, draped in a white sheet. Many mourners wore T-shirts, with his photo and messages like "Forever 15" and a passage reading, "Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed and always near."
"Again and again, we have gone through so many tragedies in this country and in the Bronx," the Rev. David Guzman told the congregation in Spanish, urging young people in attendance to take a stand against senseless violence.
"To protect the life of our people. To be on watch all the time. To prevent another tragedy. It's possible, brothers and sisters, to prevent it. We have friends — social media — we know how," he said. "Young people here, take courage."
"As we say in New York," he continued, "if you see something, say something — don't just take the video, do something."
Junior leaves behind his father Lisandro Guzman, mother Leandra Feliz and older sister Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz.
On May 24 2018 The New York Post Wrote:
Teen stabbing victim dreamed of becoming a cop
This is the budding New York police officer hacked to death by a brutal street gang when they mistook him for an intended target.
In a photo obtained by The Post, a smiling Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, 15, wears an NYPD Explorers jacket proudly as he looks at the camera.
The curly-haired teen was enrolled in the NYPD Explorers program, a group for youths ages 14-20 who are interested in a career in law enforcement, police sources said.
Guzman-Feliz had dreamed of becoming a police officer since he was 5-years-old, according to his distraught mother.
On Wednesday night, five men dragged the boy out of a bodega by his hood and stabbed him to death. His attackers are believed to have been members of the Trinitarios street gang, according to police sources.
The murderers may have been seeking revenge on a similar-looking youth, for making a raunchy sex video featuring one of the gangster's relatives – but attacked Guzman-Feliz instead.
No arrests had been made as of Sunday but Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea vowed to get justice for the teen.
"He was never going to give up on his dream of being an NYPD detective & WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP ON HIM," Shea wrote on Twitter, with the hashtag #JusticeForJunior.
The NYPD 48th Precinct wrote they were reviewing "each and every" tip and piece of information sent in.
"Working around the clock 2 make sure those responsible are held accountable. Our thoughts & prayers are w the friends & family of Lesandro," they tweeted.
Gangland style killing:
He was the son of Lisandro Guzman and Leandra Feliz and the younger brother of Genesis Collado-Feliz and brother Manuel Ortiz. Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, the 15-year-old who was killed last week outside a bodega in the Bronx, allegedly by a group of Trinitarios gang memberswith dreams of becoming an NYPD detective -- cut tragically short last week when he was stabbed to death outside a Bronx bodega in an apparent case of mistaken identity. The teen's killing sparked widespread community outrage and spurred calls of #JusticeforJunior. So far, eight suspected gang members have been arrested in the case. Funeral services began at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in the Bronx, according to the church. The funeral could be seen live on with machetes, was honored by the New York City Police Department on Friday with an annual scholarship in his name. The scholarship, named the New York City Police Foundation Lesandro Guzman-Feliz Memorial College Fund, will provide a tuition reimbursement of $5,000 to two NYPD Explorer high school graduates continuing their effort to join the police force. Overnight, an eighth suspect, Elvin Garcia, was charged in connection with the 15-year-old's death. It happened as six other suspects -- Jose Muniz, 21; Jose Taverez, 21; Manuel Rivera, 18; Danel Fernandez, 21; Joniki Martinez, 24; and Santiago Rodriguez, 24, all reputed members of a ruthless Dominican gang -- are being shipped back to the Bronx from New Jersey where they were arrested. Another suspect, Kevin Alvarez, 19, was charged on Monday. He pleaded not guilty. All face the same charges including murder, manslaughter and gang assault. Meanwhile, sadness has grown into anger in the Bronx. Guzman-Feliz was dragged from a bodega near his home in the Belmont section of the Bronx on June 20 and stabbed and slashed with a machete and knives in an apparent case of mistaken identity. He staggered back into the bodega for help then, after not getting the help he so desperately needed, sprinted toward a hospital three blocks away. He collapsed in the street, mortally wounded. The mother of the 15-year-old victim spoke out Monday as thousands gathered to pay respects to her son at his wake. "My heart is broken. He was a sweet kid with a very good heart," Feliz said. On Tuesday night, members of the community retraced his desperate and final steps in his Belmont neighborhood during a candlelight vigil and march. A petition has circulated calling for Guzman-Feliz to be buried with NYPD honors. The teen was a member of the NYPD Explorers Program and aspired to become a detective. A separate petition has circulated calling for the bodega where Guzman-Feliz was attacked to be permanently closed.
