NY judge hands down stiff sentences to 5 convicted in 'Junior' slaying

One by one, the five men convicted in the murder of Bronx teenager Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz began hearing their sentences Friday morning.

News 12 Staff

Oct 11, 2019, 9:25 PM

Updated 1,903 days ago

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One by one, the five men convicted in the murder of Bronx teenager Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz began hearing their sentences Friday morning.
Jonaiki Martinez Estrella was sentenced Friday to life without parole at Bronx Criminal Court. Next, Jose Muniz was handed an indeterminate sentence of a minimum of 25 years for his role in Junior's slashing death. Manuel Rivera was sentenced to 23 years’ minimum. Antonio Santiago and Elvin Garcia were sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
The men, suspected to be Trinitarios gang members, were found guilty in June. Muniz, Estrella, Rivera, Santiago and Garcia were convicted on charges of murder, gang assault and conspiracy.
Police say they were part of a group with more than a dozen men, all suspected to be gang members, that was looking to harm an enemy gang member last year.
They say the gang mistook Junior as a rival member and dragged him out of a bodega in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx before attacking him with machetes and knives while he fought for his life.
Junior’s parents both made victim impact statements at the sentencing. His mother called the men “evil criminals,” while his father said that he missed hanging out with this son.
The death of Junior sparked an outcry across the country to put an end to brutal gang violence. Hundreds of "Justice for Junior" supporters have stood by his family as they sought justice.
The sentencing was originally set for July, but had been pushed back three times because the defense kept submitting motions questioning aspects of the guilty verdicts.
Another eight men charged with second-degree murder are expected to appear in court later this month. They're accused of taking part in the chase that led to Junior's killing.