Five gang members were convicted in a New York City courtroom Friday for murdering a Bronx teenager nearly a year ago.
Jury members found Manuel Rivera, 18; Jose Muniz, 22; Elvin Garcia, 23; Antonio Rodriguez Hernandez Santiago, 24; and Jonaiki Martinez Estrella, 24, guilty of multiple crimes: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, second-degree gang assault, and second-degree conspiracy, Fox 5 New York reported.
Several members of the Trinitarios gang were arrested last year for dragging the victim, Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, 15, out of a Bronx corner store and butchering him to death.
The members, whom the district attorney said were part of the Trinitarios gang, mistook the teen as being a rival member of the gang. One of the top leaders later told the victim’s grieving relatives shortly after the murder that he was “sorry” his gang went after the wrong guy.
Guzman-Feliz’s death went viral on social media at the time, with many posting their frustrations with the hashtag #JusticeforJunior.
The gang members face a penalty of up to life in prison at their sentencing. The New York Police Department (NYPD) also has nine other men connected to the case in custody who are awaiting trial on lesser charges.