Details have emerged regarding one of the individuals involved in the tragic murder of 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman Feliz at a Bronx bodega. The victim’s mother, Leandra Feliz, shared her thoughts following the death of Jonaiki Martinez-Estrella, who was serving a 25-year sentence after a deadly gang attack in 2018.
“He got what he deserved,” Feliz told the Post on Sunday. She expressed that, although it doesn’t bring her son back, it does not ease the pain he inflicted on her family. “It’s not going to help the damage he has done to me,” she added, clearly still grappling with immense grief.
Leandra conveyed a larger truth about gang life, saying, “When you choose to be part of a gang, it often leads to either prison or death.” Her words carried a weight of reality, a reflection on the harsh outcomes that can come from such a lifestyle.
The brutal incident captured public attention after Martinez-Estrella, along with others from the Trinitarios gang, pursued the teenagers to the bodega. It was in this violent context that Guzman Feliz lost his life.
Martinez-Estrella was initially charged with murder but ended up convicted of lesser crimes due to a failure to adequately prove first-degree murder, which brought about a sentence of up to 25 years. The appeals court’s decision seems to have disappointed some advocates of justice.
On June 20, 2018, amid a frenzied attack, Martinez-Estrella delivered a fatal blow to Guzman Feliz’s neck, as noted by the legal proceedings that followed.
It’s important to mention that the appeals court recognized some discrepancies in the prosecution’s case against Martinez-Estrella, indicating that they fell short of fully demonstrating first-degree murder.
Even so, the convicted murderer ultimately faced a palpable consequence for his actions, though details regarding the conditions of his death remain undisclosed.
Requests for comments from officials at the Department of Corrections were left unanswered on Sunday.
Reflecting on the situation, Leandra said, “He’s only experiencing a fraction of what he took from me,” as she prepared for church services. “He took an innocent child’s life.” Her emotions were raw and heartfelt as she emphasized the stark reality of her pain, noting that at 31, he had chosen a path of violence. “He got what he deserved.”
Additional Reports by Desheania Andrews
