NEW YORK (AP)– Police have made arrests in connection with last week’s killing of a 15-year-old boy at a Bronx bodega.
Police identified one of the suspects as 19-year-old Kevin Alvarez, of the Bronx. He was arrested Sunday on charges of murder, manslaughter and gang assault.
The NYPD released a statement saying that they’re in the process of interviewing suspects and that more arrests are anticipated.
WPIX reports police received a tip just before 2 p.m. Sunday. A large group of police officers responded to a home connected to the Trinitarios gang. Four people connected to the attack were apprehended. Another suspect was reportedly taken into custody in the Dominican Republic.
Police say the victim, 15-year-old Lesandro Guzman-Ortiz, was attacked Tuesday night by a group of men outside the bodega. He was dragged out of a bodega and hacked to death with a machete.
The leader of the Trinitarios gang apologized on Facebook, saying the vicious murder resulted from a case of mistaken identity. Sources tell WPIX that a gang member was angry because a relative was featured in a sex video. Lesandro Guzman-Ortiz was mistakenly identified as being in the video.
"They have to make sure when they kill someone they have the right person," Lesandro’s mother, Leandra Feliz, told ABC 7.
#JusticeforJunior began trending on social media after rapper Cardi B posted about the case on Instagram.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by Guzman-Feliz’ family to help with funeral costs and other financial difficulties
