This is Unimaginable heartbreak.
More than all too often we hear about senseless crimes in our New York City streets.
The despair of mothers losing their children has become sadly common in this unfortunate sleepless city.
Gangs,Petty fights, among other crimes lead to Innocent bystanders becoming victims of violence.
How many times has a stray bullet killed an innocent person?…a child?
I’m sure by now everyone knows the Story of Lesandro Guzman Feliz. Everyone knew him as Junior.
An innocent beautiful child who was brutally murdered for no reason and taken away from his Mother before his time.
This summer 15 year old Junior, who normally was at home enjoying family company and playing video Games decided to meet a Friend on a warm summer night just like any other teenager.
His mom was very protective of Junior she wanted him home right away. He told her not to worry and that he would be right back. He told her he would be in the area and won’t be long
Never could anyone fathom what would become of a simple walk in his own neighborhood.
A friend he usually hung out with asked him for some money for food. His mother gave Junior $5 to go downstairs and give to the boy for food. Junior met with his friend and like any other 15 year old he wanted just to hang out and talk for a Bit.
On the that night a parent’s worst nightmare occurred.Junior was chased by gang members who suspected he was in a rival gang. These gang members chased him for blocks on end. Junior ran inside a well known Bodega that he had frequented since he was a little boy with his Mother.
He ran Inside and desperately hopped over the counter in order to hide from his attackers.In an instant reaction the store owner at 1st pushed him away. According to all of the camera footage it appears that Junior hid for only a second till the gang members entered the store and found him. They argued inside the store for a few brief seconds and then the unimaginable happened.
What I’m about to explain to you right now will not be very detailed at all. This heinous act was all caught on video. I would not recommend for anyone to watch this because it’s so disturbing. Unfortunately a coworker Showed this to me and I was unable to ever get this out of my head.
The gang members dragged Junior outside the store, Junior desperately trying to cling on to whatever he could to not be dragged out. Dragged outside, where he was then attacked by at least 7 other gang members with knives and machetes. The gang members attacked him viciously with these weapons repeatedly.
He was then sliced in his throat and pushed Back inside of the Bodega on a 183rd street and Bathgate Avenue in The Bronx.
Junior, in the store obvious desperation for help. His blood from his wounds from all over his body on to the bodega counter.The store owner And the store employees then pointed outside the door. Later on they said they were pointing towards the hospital. But no one accompanied Junior to the hospital that was a block away? The store employees allowed Junior to leave alone, they actually instructed him, a 15 year old child to go.
Debates on whether or not the store owner even called 911 are still unknown.
This is all on the video. Junior is shown running across the street after he is brutally attacked, up the block towards the hospital where he reaches the front of hospital and collapses.
Oddly enough,as he crosses third Avenue, an ambulance is waiting at the light as he passes in front of them.
He passed away in the hospital.
It was later discovered that he was senselessly murdered in a case of mistaken identity.
The violence in New York City is completely out of hand. Politicians are not doing anything to get gang members of the streets or to create safe havens for the youth.
I did not know Junior nor his family, however his story has stuck with me and repeated in my head so many times. This is so sad especially being that I grew up in that area and I know all too well what the violence there is like.
I think now in this day and age it has gotten even worse.
All of the 14 adult Suspects who were involved in Juniors murder have been arrested and are awaiting trial.
His mother is so soft spoken and strong, my heart goes out to her.
I really hope that there is Justice for Junior.
Junior was a great student and a member of the NYPD police cadets for the youth. He wanted to be a detective when he grew up.He was never in a gang of any sort. This was complete mistaken identity.
I don’t usually write about current events although I do love writing about everything and anything but this story just touched me so much and I’m sure it’s touched hundreds of thousands of people not only in the community but across the World.
Lesandro Would have turned 16 on November 11th 2018.
Hopefully safe havens are created where children in these neighborhoods can go to to spend time and be mentored.
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