HipHopRaisedMeTheBlog.com reports that Jonaiki Martinez-Estrella, the Bronx gang member responsible for delivering the fatal blow to 15-year-old Lesandro “Junior” Guzman Feliz, has been resentenced to 25 years to life in prison. This decision follows the vacating of his initial first-degree murder conviction by an appeals court in 2023, which determined that the evidence presented did not meet the specific legal criteria for that charge.
Martinez-Estrella, 30, still faces convictions for second-degree murder, conspiracy, and gang assault. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark announced the resentencing, emphasizing that this outcome continues to hold the thirteen other defendants involved in Junior’s tragic murder accountable for their actions.
On June 20, 2018, Martinez-Estrella and several members of the Trinitarios gang mistakenly identified Guzman Feliz as a member of a rival gang, the Sunsets. This tragic case drew widespread outrage across New York City, as Junior was brutally dragged from the Cruz and Chiky Grocery in the Bronx and attacked with knives and a machete.
Court documents reveal that Martinez-Estrella was seen on surveillance footage holding Junior by his sweatshirt before thrusting a large knife into his throat. The resulting injury, which severed the jugular vein and was 4.5 inches deep, was determined to be the sole cause of Junior’s death.
Initially convicted of first-degree murder, Martinez-Estrella’s conviction was overturned when an appellate court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that the single blow inflicted “extreme physical pain” or that he derived pleasure from the act—criteria necessary for a first-degree murder charge.
In a 2019 interview, Martinez-Estrella denied responsibility for Junior’s death, claiming he was not present during the murder and asserting that he did not resemble the tattooed assailant depicted in the media.
This resentencing marks another chapter in a case that has left a deep impact on the community and serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles with gang violence in urban areas. As the legal proceedings continue, HipHopRaisedMeTheBlog.com will keep you updated on any developments related to this case and its broader implications for public safety and justice in the Bronx and beyond.
