The family of a Belmont teen horrifically stabbed to death joined Councilman Ritchie Torres and members of NYPD Explorers program in a street renaming ceremony less than a year from the time the teen was killed.   

The corner of East 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue in Belmont was renamed Junior Guzman-Feliz Way, in memory of Lesandro “Junior” Guzman-Feliz, who was killed directly across where the sign bears his name.

Junior, 15 at the time, was stabbed last summer outside of a local bodega allegedly by members of the Trinitarios gang. Video surveillance shows Junior being pulled out of the bodega by several men who repeatedly stabbed Junior with machetes. He tried to seek help from the store employees but was turned away. By the time anyone helped him it was too late.  

His death led to community outrage, which led to the #JUSTICEFORJUNIOR social media campaign. Many celebrities not only reposted the image, but also donated money to the family.

New York State legislators even proposed “Junior’s Law” which designates bodegas and other community businesses to offer safe havens for teens to escape from any gang-related run-ins. Now under new management, that same bodega Junior sought help from would later become a “Safe Haven Zone.”

Torres sees the day as a day of remembrance but also a day of learning. “We hope that we never forget the legacy of Junior Guzman, and we continue to have a heighten conscious about gang violence in our communities,” said Torres.

While Junior’s mother, Leandra Feliz, who was celebrating her birthday, felt that this day brought her closer to her son. “I miss him and feel his spirit closer to me,” said Feliz.

Feliz also feels strongly about helping other kids against gang violence. “But we need to do something to help other kids and try to save our community, “ Feliz said.

Junior, a member of the NYPD’s Explorers Program, dreamed of being a police detective and helping his own community against gang violence. Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who was also in attendance, has announced a summer camp named after after Junior. Organizers for Camp Junior are now accepting applications to enroll Bronx kids to their two-week camp in Harriman State Park.