12 Alleged Gang Members Indicted In 'Justice For Junior' Case
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A dozen alleged gang members were indicted Wednesday in the murder of 15-year-old Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz last month in the Bronx.
Kevin Alvarez, 19, Elvin Garcia, 23, Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 24, Manuel Rivera, 18, Danel Fernandez, 21, Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 24, Jose Muniz, 22, Jose Tavarez, 21, Danilo Payamps Pacheco, 21, Diego Suero, 29, Gabriel Ramirez Concepcion, 26, and Luis Cabrera Santos, AKA Luis Rodriguez, 25, are charged with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, second-degree conspiracy, first-degree gang assault, second-degree gang assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Additionally, five of the suspects – Garcia, Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, Rivera and Muniz – are charged with first-degree murder, including torture.
All 12 men appeared in court Wednesday morning, where they pleaded not guilty.
Bronx Criminal Court was packed with Guzman-Feliz's family members, including his mother who yelled "murderers" at the suspects, CBS2's Natalie Duddridge reported.
The last man taken into custody, 25-year-old Luis Cabrera Santos, was extradited from Connecticut and charged Tuesday with murder, manslaughter and gang assault.
The NYPD says the suspects are members of the Trinitarios gang and wrongly targeted Guzman-Feliz, who police say had no connection to gang activity. He was in the NYPD's Explorers program for aspiring young officers.
Clark said Wednesday the violence was the result of "intra-gang conflict" between the Los Soros sect, allegedly led by Diego Suero, and the Sunset sect.
His death caught national attention after he was dragged out of a Bronx bodega and stabbed with machetes.
Police believe they have arrested everyone involved.
