It has been four years since the fatal stabbing of Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz. On Friday, there was justice for his senseless killing; two gang leaders involved were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Diego Suero and Frederick Then, two gang leaders, were found guilty of ordering the killing.
“My son was an innocent kid. And he was only 15 years old,” Leandra Feliz, the victim’s mother, said minutes after one of her son’s killers was sentenced. She attended the sentencing with a group of family and loved ones.
Guzman-Feliz was just 15 years old when he was chased inside a Bronx bodega, then dragged out where he was and fatally stabbed to death by Trinitarios gang members on June 20, 2018, CBS News reported.
He was not the intended target.
“Just for it to be a mistake. It’s not fair to have those kinds of people on the street, killing innocent,” said Feliz.
Feliz begged the judge to give Suero and Then the maximum sentence.
Feliz said through an interpreter, “Junior was an innocent child. He was just 15 years old, and he was not part of any gangs and did not walk the streets with bad intentions.”
The men declined to speak.
“We follow the evidence wherever it leads, no matter who it helps or hurts. In this particular case, there was a lot of information that we can garner. Some of it we were able to use in order to help solidify this conviction,” said Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark.
The attack garnered attention across the city and sparked protests, demanding “Justice for Junior.” The victim’s mother said her faith and the support from the entire city helped her to carry on.
“That’s why we’re getting justice, and thank God for everyone,” Feliz said.
Guzman-Feliz wanted to become a police officer and was part of the NYPD’s Explorers Program.
Fourteen men have been charged with his murder, with six more to be tried.
