Family friend of Bronx boy killed in Dominican Republic behind slaying: dad

April 21, 2023

The 9-year-old Bronx boy killed in the Dominican Republic was gunned down as part of a robbery-gone-wrong — allegedly planned by a longtime family friend who preyed on the pair on their first trip to the country, according to police.

Tomás Peña Morel, 32, was among six men busted in connection to the murder of Gioser Luís Feliz, who took a bullet to the head after leaving Santiago’s Cibao International Airport on a spring vacation with his father on Wednesday.

The boy and his father, Sergio Luis Feliz, had just flown in from New York’s JFK airport and were en route to a relative’s house when the violence unfolded, Univision reported.

Police said Morel, a friend of Sergio, was known to the family and had knowledge of their travel route and itinerary, and the mourning father told reporters that the thieves knew his family would be the ideal victims.

“It was an attempt to rob me of my belongings without me knowing who it would be because it was my first time coming to Santiago,” Sergio said.

The boy’s uncle told reporters on Friday that Sergio and Morel have known each other for 10 years, and that they were “basically brothers.”

The shooting suspects, who were in a rented car, allegedly followed the family from the airport and opened fire when the family’s driver refused to pull over after going through a toll booth, police said.

Gioser was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Sergio Luis Feliz, of the Bronx, and his son, nine-year-old Gioser Luís Feliz — Sergio Luis Feliz was visiting Santiago, in the Dominican Republic, when his son, nine-year-old Gioser Luís Feliz, was shot

Sergio broke down as he recalled the moment his son was killed

The boy was shot during his first trip to Santiago — The boy was shot after gunmen surrounded their rented car

The gunmen fled the scene but were tracked down by cops less than 24 hours later.

Luis Ángel Vargas Brito, Derlin Javier Mercado Martinez, Cesar Junior Ulloa Cuevas, José Manuel Almonte Santana and Elian Martínez Sánchez were also taken into custody over the fatal shooting.

Police have also taken five women into custody in connection to the incident, but have yet to publicly identify them or their possible role in the case.

Sergio and his son were allegedly setup by a family friend — The mastermind behind the botched robbery was a man Sergio, pictured with his son, knew for 10 years

The young boy's body is being transported back to New York — The young boy’s body is being transported back to New York

The death has left his father and his family devestated

Meanwhile, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader decried the deadly violence, tweeting on Thursday: “Since I found out about the death of the child Gioser Luis Féliz, I am following up on the case.

“I have been informed by the Director of the National Police about the arrest of the 5 criminals who committed this horrendous crime. Now justice must be ensured in the courts.”

Sergio said preparations are now underway to transport his son’s body back to the Big Apple.