New York Post

STAR'S COMFORT

La La visits Bx. slay vic's sister

- By GEORGETT ROBERTS Additional reporting by Laura Italiano

She lost her little brother in a heartbreak­ing mistaken-identity murder.

But Genesis Collado-Feliz, 17, has gained something of a big sister following the savage slaying of Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz: glamorous TV star La La Anthony.

The actress and wife of the NBA’s Carmelo Anthony made a second visit Saturday to the murder-scene-turned-vigil outside a Bronx bodega to comfort the victim’s grieving sibling.

La La hugged Genesis and commiserat­ed over Junior’s tragic death on June 20, when the 15-yearold was dragged from the Cruz and Chiky store and allegedly attacked by machete-wielding Trinitario­s gang members.

La La and the heartsick Collado-Feliz chatted and embraced, then walked arm-in-arm amid wellwisher­s and an array of candles, balloons and teddy bears left in tribute.

At one point, La La removed her sunglasses, her eyes brimming with tears.

As with a prior visit with the victim’s family on June 25 — La La’s 39th birthday — Saturday’s visit was no publicity stunt.

“I can’t do any interviews,” La La said solemnly.

All a somber Carmelo would say when asked for his thoughts was, “It’s hard. It’s hard right now.”

La La posted on Instagram: “I wanted to offer our love and support to Lesandro “Junior’s” family.

“His sister ... reached out and told me he loved Melo,” she wrote. “So I asked Mel to go with me . . . Seeing his family smile when we walked in the door is something I will never forget.”

The Anthonys also have made donations to the family’s GoFundMe.

The innocent victim — who had joined the NYPD Explorers program and aspired to be a cop — attracted national attention after the NYPD distribute­d video of the attack.

Eight men have been charged in the crime and are in custody.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States