- This story is about Lesandro Guzman-Feliz. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/25/nyregion/bronx-stabbing-lesandro-guzman-feliz.html?smid=url-share
A tragic incident occurred in the Bronx, New York, where a 15-year-old boy named Lesandro Guzman-Feliz, known as Junior, lost his life in a horrifying manner. The incident took place when he was dragged out of a bodega in the Belmont neighborhood and brutally attacked with machetes by several assailants. It is believed that this attack was a case of mistaken identity by members of a gang.The incident, captured on video surveillance and shared on social media, led to public outrage and an outpouring of support for Junior’s family. Hundreds of mourners gathered to remember him, and many carried white roses while chanting “Justice for Junior.” The police commissioner, James P. O’Neill, attended his wake. One suspect, Kevin J. Alvarez, 19, was charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault, and gang assault and pleaded not guilty during his arraignment. Six others were awaiting extradition from New Jersey. The Passaic County prosecutor’s office in New Jersey identified the other suspects, and an extradition hearing was scheduled. The New York Police Department received an overwhelming response from the public, offering assistance and information to help locate and apprehend the suspects.Junior was a sophomore at the Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health & Science Charter School, and his loss deeply affected his school community. The school pledged to cover his funeral expenses, and a GoFundMe campaign raised substantial funds to support his family.At Junior’s funeral, his mother, Leandra Feliz, was met with cheers and applause from mourners. Many attendees were strangers who felt compelled to show their support for a young life tragically lost to senseless violence. The incident underscored the need for community unity against crime and violence, as Junior’s case showed how the police and the public can work together to address such issues.
2. This story is about Lauren Pazienza.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/22/nyregion/barbara-maier-gustern-attack-arrest.html?smid=url-share
In March 2021, Lauren Pazienza, aged 26, was charged with manslaughter in the death of Barbara Maier Gustern, an 87-year-old beloved singing coach in Manhattan. Ms. Pazienza allegedly pushed Ms. Gustern to the pavement outside her apartment building, leaving her with a severe head injury. After the incident, Ms. Pazienza deleted her social media accounts, removed her wedding registry from the internet, and fled to her parents’ house in Long Island. However, street cameras captured her face, and with the help of an employee at her building in Astoria, she was identified. Eventually, she surrendered to the police almost two weeks after the assault. During her arraignment, Ms. Pazienza was charged with manslaughter and held on $500,000 cash bail or a $1 million bond. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and it is not known what led to the incident. Ms. Gustern, a renowned vocal coach, had worked with notable artists and had a reputation for being supportive and loving. She passed away from her injuries a few days after the assault. Relatives of Ms. Pazienza could not be reached for comment, and her LinkedIn profile indicated that she had worked as an event coordinator for a furniture company. Surveillance footage showed her spending over 20 minutes in the area after the shove, including having a “physical altercation” with her fiancé and watching the ambulance arrive. Ms. Gustern’s funeral was scheduled for Saturday at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Manhattan. The incident left a lasting impact on those who knew and admired her, as she was remembered as a great gift to her students and the community.
3. This story is about Sundance Oliver.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/06/nyregion/nyc-shootings-sundance-oliver.html?smid=url-share
In a 24-hour crime spree that spanned public housing projects in Brooklyn and Manhattan, a man with a lengthy criminal history, Sundance Oliver, 28, left two young people dead and a 96-year-old man wounded. The violence began in Crown Heights when Oliver allegedly attempted to rob a woman, accidentally shooting the elderly bystander. He then fled the scene. Hours later, in Lower Manhattan’s Smith Houses, Oliver allegedly shot and killed a 21-year-old man, Kevon Langston, in an apartment. Later that night, back at the Kingsborough Houses in Brooklyn, he fatally shot 17-year-old Keyaira Rattray-Brothers. Keyaira was known for her love of singing and had dreams of becoming an R&B and gospel singer. The police launched a manhunt for Oliver and identified him as the prime suspect in all three shootings. He turned himself in at a precinct, where he reportedly grew agitated and had to be subdued by officers. Oliver had a significant criminal history, with 12 prior arrests, including weapons charges. He was on parole for robbery at the time of the crimes. Although witnesses in both fatal shootings identified Oliver, the motive behind the attacks remained unclear. He did not have the firearm used in the shootings when he surrendered, and the police were still searching for it. Oliver faced multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder. Residents of the Kingsborough Houses expressed the tragic normalization of violence in their community. Neighbors reported being accustomed to shootings, stabbings, and other acts of violence in the area. Many were relieved that Oliver was apprehended but saddened by the ongoing impact of violence on their community. Keyaira’s family mourned her loss and described her as a talented and energetic young woman with dreams of a music career. Her mother, Tasha Rattray, spoke of her last conversation with Keyaira, expressing her love and hopes for her safety, unaware that it would be their final exchange. They shared a deep desire for justice to ensure that Oliver could never harm anyone else.
4.This story is about Thomas Abreu.
Thomas Abreu, 25, of Brooklyn, has been charged with murder in connection with a shooting spree in Queens, New York. During this half-hour rampage, Abreu allegedly fired randomly at people on the street, resulting in multiple shootings. The incidents began in the Kingsborough Houses in Crown Heights, where Abreu attempted to rob a woman and shot a 96-year-old bystander in the process. The elderly man survived with an ankle wound. In a separate incident in Lower Manhattan’s Smith Houses, Abreu allegedly shot and killed a 21-year-old man named Kevon Langston. The most tragic outcome occurred when Abreu allegedly shot an 86-year-old man named Hamod Ali Saeidi on Jamaica Avenue near 109th Street. Saeidi later succumbed to his injuries. Abreu faces multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon. The motive for these attacks remained unclear at the time of the report. The shootings led to a police search, and Abreu was arrested with a 9-millimeter pistol and an extended magazine inside the scooter he was riding. Witnesses and surveillance video helped connect the incidents and track down the shooter. Hamod Ali Saeidi, the 86-year-old victim, was an immigrant from Yemen who had come to the United States in 1962 in search of a better life. He had dreams of returning to his village in Yemen but was tragically killed during his daily stroll in Queens. The shootings were a rare occurrence of random violence in New York City, and Abreu’s motive remained unclear.
5. This story is about Frank James.
Frank R. James, the man accused of carrying out a shooting spree on a New York City subway train in April, is expected to plead guilty to terrorism charges. James is facing an 11-count indictment, including 10 counts of terrorist attack for each person shot during the assault, as well as a firearms charge. The shooting took place on an N train during the morning rush hour in Brooklyn. Although no one was killed, the attack raised concerns about the city’s transit system’s vulnerability and mental health care gaps. James, 63, James faces a possible life. sentence.
