Justice for Junior: Friends, family, neighbors come together to honor slain teen

Friends, family and neighbors gathered in the Bronx to honor and remember an innocent 15-year-old boy who was killed last week in what a gang member says was a case of mistaken identity.

That's no comfort to the teen's parents who are now desperate for justice for their son, Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known to many as Junior.

Leandra Feliz and Lesandro Guzman spoke outside the Ortiz Funeral Home in the Bronx on Monday where a line of mourners gathered to say goodbye to their son.

A group of attackers used machetes to slash and stab the 15-year-old last week outside a bodega in the Tremont section.

The wake for Junior will continue Tuesday, with funeral services set for Wednesday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in the Belmont section.

The lines of mourners Monday stretched from the funeral home all the way down Southern Boulevard and around the corner, all waiting to pay respects to the victim's family.

"I think it's amazing," said Leandro's sister-in-law Ione Gutierrez. "I think it's justice for Junior."

She remembers him devoted to his family and an outgoing, social young man in the NYPD's Explorer program. "And wanted to be a detective, not just a police officer, a detective, it has rank," she said.

Police Commissioner James O'Neill made it a point to pay his respects to the family. Many others, with some moved to tears, felt it was important to show support for the family by standing in line for up to four hours.

"That's what really has us here because of my two daughters," said parent Jose Andino. "I got young kids his age, and to get them snatched up like that is crazy."

Many were not surprised by the huge turnout. "Not really, that shows unity," said area resident Terri Ramos. "Something that we have not seen in a long time."

Not far from the somber scene at the funeral home was the arraignment for the 19-year-old charged with Junior's murder. Kevin Alvarez was met with an angry crowd as he emerged from the 48th Precinct following his arrest Sunday night.

Security cameras outside the bodega captured the gruesome murder. Authorities in Paterson, New Jersey, rounded up a half dozen suspects in connection with the vicious attack. All six appeared in a Passaic County courtroom on Monday afternoon for an extradition hearing.

"They did him like an animal. And the people who did this in my opinion today should not get justice at all. They should be sentenced to life without parole," mourner Kenneth Kelly said.

Junior's father now has a permanent memorial on his left hand after he got a tattoo of his son this weekend. He says it is something he will carry with him forever.


Celebrities around the country are also demanding Justice for Junior:


----------
* More Bronx news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts