2 Students Awarded with $5,000 in Honor of Slain Teen Lesandro 'Junior' Guzman-Feliz

The NYPD has awarded two scholarships in honor of Lesandro "Junior" Guzman-Feliz, who was murdered outside a Bronx bodega earlier this summer.

The NYPD Explorers program, which Junior was a part of, gave two students, Malachi Nelson and Nahomi Zambrano, $5,000 for college in tribute to the slain teen.

The program gives young New York residents and opportunity to explore careers in law enforcement and criminal justice. 

"Some of my friends, they've been through a lot, and I want to change that," Zambrano told ABC News "That is something I always wanted to do, especially [combating] gang violence. That is something Junior went through, and I feel so sad about that."

Junior’s parents attended the graduation their son was supposed to participate in. 

"Junior, as his mother, I know him," Leandra Feliz, Junior’s mom, told the station. "He would be so happy in here now, be so proud. Happy, 100-percent sure."

Junior was killed outside of a Bronx bodega on June 20 when several alleged gang members brutally stabbed him in a case of “mistaken identity." The slaying was captured on surveillance footage. 

A thirteenth suspect, 29-year-old Ronald Urena, was arrested and charged Sunday with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon, among other charges, in connection to Junior's death. 

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