6 more in custody, teen arrested in connection with machete murder of 15-year-old Bronx boy
06/25/2018 2:11 pm PDT
By Mary Murphy, WPIX
NEW YORK -- (WPIX) -- Six more suspects were being held in Paterson, New Jersey Monday, awaiting an extradition hearing, in connection with the savage machete attack on a 15-year-old Bronx boy.
One other suspect, Kevin Alvarez, 19, has already been charged with murder and gang assault in the brutal death of Lesandro“Junior” Guzman-Feliz.
PIX11 News first reported Sunday that multiple people were taken out of an alleged gang stronghold on East 24th Street in Paterson.
They are suspected of being members of the Trinitarios gang.
Prosecutor Camelia Valdes announced the extradition hearings of the following suspects:
- Jose Muniz, 21, of Paterson, NJ
- Jose Taverez, 21, of the Bronx, NY
- Manuel Rivera, 18 of Bronx, NY
- Danel Fernandez 21 of Bronx, NY
- Joniki Martinez 24, of Freeport, NY
- Santiago Rodriguez 24, of Bronx, NY
Paterson, New Jersey police first received a tip at about 1:45 p.m. Sunday. They sent a large contingent of cops and found four people tied to the attack of Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz who were holed up at a house on East 24th Street in Paterson, a source tells PIX11.
When authorities went to the house, one suspect managed to escape but was apprehended minutes later, sources say.
Another suspect was taken into custody in the Dominican Republic, a source said.
The leader of the Trinitarios gang apologized on Facebook, saying the vicious murder resulted from a case of mistaken identity.
Guzman-Feliz was dragged out of a bodega at East 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue and hacked to death with a machete on Wednesday night following a dispute with a group of males, officials said.
A source told PIX11 that one gang member was angry because a relative was featured in a sex video and thought Guzman-Feliz was in the video.
Guzman-Feliz's death sent shockwaves through the community, and on social media, as the hashtag #JusticeforJunior began trending. Rapper Cardi B, a Bronx native, was among those paying tribute, posting on Instagram about getting justice for the teen.
