STATEMENT FROM SENATOR RIVERA ON THE BRUTAL MURDER OF LESANDRO 'JUNIOR' GUZMAN-FELIZ

"Like the rest of our community, I am profoundly disturbed and outraged by last week's murder of 15-year old Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz. The sheer brutality and complete lack of humanity demonstrated by those who perpetrated this heinous crime, are difficult to comprehend. These criminals have left Junior's mother, family, and friends facing an excruciatingly painful loss, and an entire community mourning a young, talented Bronxite with a bright future ahead of him.

I commend the exhaustive efforts of the NYPD and our community as a whole, as they worked together to identify those responsible and bring them to justice. As a result, five suspects in Junior's murder are currently in police custody. If charged and found guilty, it is my hope they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I would also like to echo the NYPD's message urging Bronxites to not answer violence with violence either on the streets or through social media. We need to and must do better than that.

Finally, I ask you to join us today at a vigil that will be held on E. 183rd Street and Bathgate Avenue at 6:00pm to honor Junior's life while demanding the justice his family deserves. #JusticeForJunior."