#JusticeForJunior went viral on social media in June 2018 when surveillance video was released of a 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz being brutally stabbed in front of a Bronx bodega.
The Trinitarios gang members behind the murder had mistaken the identity of Junior for some other person that they were allegedly trying to get revenge on.
On Friday, Justice Robert Neary of the Bronx Supreme Court sentenced five young men their prison terms for the murder after a series of delays in sentencing. Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 25, was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Estrella was responsible for stabbing Junior in the neck, ultimately killing him. Estrella blamed his actions on drugs and alcohol and expressed regret for the murder, “I feel bad about the way this kid died. It was not my intention to cause the death of this kid.”
Manuel Rivera, 19, was sentenced to 23 years to life for his involvement in the assault. Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 25, Jose Muniz, 23, and Elvin Garcia, 25, received a minimum of 25 year sentences with the possibility of serving life. The five men were charged with gang assault, conspiracy and murder.
Junior’s mother spoke out about the loss of her son, “They killed an innocent child,” Leandra Feliz said. “Of all these men, not a single one of them said, ‘No, no, don’t do it.’ That night, there were two deaths, Junior and I, who was left dead inside. As a young boy, my son dreamed of becoming a detective, so he could protect this city…Please make sure my son’s dreams come true. These killers should never be able to step out of a jail cell, so they know the moment they killed my son, they took their own lives as well.”
Feliz continued, “These killers should never be able to step out of their jail cells. I no longer have my kid. I don’t have someone to hug and kiss. My son should be in his junior year of high school, pursuing his dreams of being a police officer.”
Junior’s father also made a statement at the sentencing. “I am no longer the person I once was,” Lisandro Guzman said. “It is impossible to find purpose in life. You will never have the ability to understand the pain that you caused. I will never forgive you. You deserve to be punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
There were a total of 15 men involved in Junior’s murder. The remaining men will go to trial for second-degree murder in 2020.
