Officers rushed to calm the emotional mother of Lesandro Guzman Feliz (Junior) as she watched her son’s final moments on video inside a Bronx courtroom on Thursday.
Leandra Feliz was convulsing and screaming almost as soon as video of her son’s fight for his life was shown during cross-examination of Kevin Alvarez, the New York Daily News reports.
The video showed the 15-year-old holding onto his neck as blood poured out and as he flagged for help near the Cruz & Chicky bodega.
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Leandra Feliz was convulsing and screaming almost as soon as video of her son’s final moments was shown during cross-examination of Kevin Alvarez on Thursday
Trial recessed and the jury was immediately excused as a result of the outburst.
‘This is a very difficult situation,’ said Yvette Rodriguez, a 54-year-old friend of the family. ‘This is a very heartbreaking thing.’
Photographers were ordered outside the courtroom and told to turn off their cameras as the ‘medical emergency’ with the mother occurred
Assistant District Attorney Morgan Dolan had been providing the mother with warning whenever any graphic video was shown in the courtroom. Feliz has diverted her eyes in response.
But the mother was watching as a defense lawyer questioned Kevin Alvarez, the key witness that secured a plea deal for his corroboration.
Photographers were ordered outside the courtroom and told to turn off their cameras as the ‘medical emergency’ with the mother occurred.
The heartbreaking moment comes just two days after Feliz was accosted by a pregnant woman speaking Spanish believed to be tied to the gang that was responsible for Junior’s murder.
It also comes just days after Alvarez shared that he will get time served for his role in the brutal killing of the teen – as long as he testifies truthfully.
Kevin Alvarez went over the details of his four page cooperation agreement with the Office Of the Bronx District Attorney, which was then added into evidence. The news was revealed on Tuesday.
‘This is a very difficult situation,’ said Yvette Rodriguez, a 54-year-old friend of the family. ‘This is a very heartbreaking thing’
Photographers were ordered outside the courtroom and told to turn off their cameras as the ‘medical emergency’ with the mother occurred. The mother was taken in an ambulance
The 20-year-old – who was seen in footage dragging the 15-year-old outside the Cruz & Chicky bodega – shared that he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree. The charge normally carries up to 25 years in prison.
Assistant District Attorney Morgan Dolan inquired about Alvarez’s ‘two potential sentences,’ PIX 11 reports.
When Dolan asked what happened if Alvarez didn’t respond truthfully, he said: ‘I get sentenced to 25 years.’
When asked about what happens if he satisfied the agreement, Alvarez continued: ‘I get sentenced to time served on conspiracy in the fourth degree.’
Folks in the courtroom could be heard audibly gasping when the news was revealed.
The outburst occurred while defense lawyers for the case cross-examined Kevin Alvarez (pictured in February)
Alvarez – who was seen in footage dragging the 15-year-old outside the Cruz & Chicky bodega – said that he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the 1st degree
Alvarez testified that he entered the Bronx bodega on June 20 and punched Junior in the face and kicked him before dragging the teen out to the sidewalk. Junior was then stabbed with knives and a machete.
‘It’s a sweetheart deal,’ Attorney Christopher Carrión explained. ‘He has a big incentive to tell the truth, because he has a manslaughter conviction of 25 years hanging over him if he lies or doesn’t cooperate.’
‘If he satisfies the conditions, the manslaughter plea gets withdrawn and vacated, making him a free man.’
Alvarez did share in his testimony that he was now considered ‘3,5,7’ by the Trinitarios gang – which means he is no good. He has been in protective custody since striking the deal.
Alvarez testified that he entered the Bronx bodega on June 20 and punched Junior in the face and kicked him before dragging the teen out to the sidewalk
Junior was then stabbed with knives and a machete
‘Even when he’s freed, he will be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life,’ Carrión added.
As the trial wrapped for the day, Junior’s mother Leandra Guzman made her way home but was accosted by a pregnant woman speaking Spanish.
‘Leandra was calmly walking down the hallway getting ready to go home, said absolutely nothing to them, minding her peace … and out of nowhere, the pregnant one started screaming at her — ranting, raving, carrying on and yelling at her,’ one witness explained to the New York Post.
The mother lashed back at the stranger and was escorted by police.
Lesandro ‘Junior’ Guzman-Feliz, 15, is believed to have been murdered by members of the New York Trinitarios gang, who dragged him out of a New York convenience store and stabbed him to death in the street, in June 2018.
As the trial wrapped on Tuesday, Junior’s mother Leandra Guzman made her way home but was accosted by a pregnant woman speaking Spanish
The gang are said to have thought the boy was a member of a rival gang in a case of mistaken identity.
Of the 14 believed to have been involved in the killing five have are charged with the murder and are standing trial – the gang members will face life in prison if convicted.
Antonio Rodriguez, Hernandez Santiago, Elvin Garcia, Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, José Muñiz and Manuel Rivera were charged with the murder and face additional charges of manslaughter, conspiracy, gang assault and criminal possession of a weapon.