Clothes were blood-soaked
Grim evidence in Junior slay trial
The blood-soaked clothes worn by slain Bronx teen Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz as he was hacked at by a machete-wielding mob were displayed to jurors at the boy’s murder trial Thursday, prompting several spectators to burst into tears and his anguished father to exit the courtroom.
Officer Kyle Oiwaka of the 48th Precinct took the stand on the 12th day of trial to testify about responding to a reported knife assault the on June 2018 night Junior was killed, and gave chilling details of the gory scene.
“At the foot of the location I noticed a lot of blood, and people frantically screaming,” Oiwaka said referring to the entrance to St. Barnabas Hospital in Belmont, where Junior — bleeding profusely from his wounds — had collapsed in a frantic attempt to get help.
The 15-year-old had already been pronounced dead inside the hospital, Oikawa would later learn.
During the cop’s testimony, a white T-shirt completely saturated in the boy’s blood as well as bloodsoaked boxers, a sock, and a blue zip-up sweatshirt designed with stars and stripes were shown to jurors.
Oiwaka said Junior’s clothes had to be repackaged the day after they were vouchered into evidence as “the blood was soaking through” the paper bags they had been stored in.
Seeing his son’s clothing proved too much to bear for Junior’s father, Lesandro Guzman, who left the courtroom shortly after Oikawa’s testimony.
“It was very painful,” Guzman told reporters in Spanish. “I don’t want to see it again. It’s like my son was right here with me.”
Junior’s mother Leandra Guzman had to be escorted from the courtroom last week when she began screaming and shaking after viewing gruesome footage of her son being attacked by a group of alleged gangbangers. She has not been back to court since.
Crime scene unit Detective Sofia Henry also testified Thursday, telling jurors about photos she took on the night of the incident. Henry said Junior had a large open wound on the right side of his neck when she saw his body in the morgue.
Blood was splattered on the floor and counter of Cruz & Chiki Deli on Bathgate Ave. and 183rd St., the store Junior was dragged from as he desperately sought refuge from his attackers, the detective said.
Henry also told of discovering a 5-inch blade inside the passenger seat pocket of suspect Kevin’s Alvarez’s 2003 gray Acura. Alvarez, who testified last week as a cooperating witness, pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges in a deal with Bronx prosecutors and is expected to serve no prison time.
Facing first-degree murder charges in Junior’s death are alleged Trinitarios street gang members Antonio Rodriguez, Hernandez Santiago, Elvin Garcia, Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, José Muñiz and Manuel Rivera. They also face manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and weapons charges. If convicted, they face life in prison.
Nine other suspects are expected to stand trial on lesser charges in connection to the boy’s death later his year.