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In a hearing held Wednesday morning in Miami, the Prosecutor's Office indicated in statements to Teresa Padrón that it will upgrade the charge against Damian Valdez-Galloso, the only person arrested for the death of El Taiger (José Manuel Carbajal), from second-degree murder to first-degree murder.
The request for an increased criminal charge has become a growing demand from thousands of fans of the reggaeton artist, particularly from his manager, Teresa Padrón, who even led a petition campaign to intensify pressure on the authorities.
It was Teresa herself who provided a preview of the announcement in her Instagram stories, shortly after nine this morning (local time).
"1 degree!!! God is great. Justice for José," wrote the friend of the deceased reggaeton artist.
Following the modification of the charge, Damian will face an accusation that will increase the severity of the penalty if he is found guilty of murder.
In addition to the charge of second-degree murder being changed to first-degree murder, Damian faces two other charges: tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
For the second consecutive time, Damian did not appear at the hearing this Wednesday. The next appearance is scheduled for December 19, when the formal change of criminal charges against the defendant is expected to take place.
Climbing positions: From second to first grade
It was Judge Mindy S. Glazer of the Miami-Dade criminal court who, during the defendant's initial hearing, was the first to question why a more serious charge was not being filed against Damian, considering the circumstances outlined in the court records.
According to Glazer, it appeared that there was "premeditation," based on the events that involved a gunshot to the head followed by the manipulation of the victim's body.
However, the prosecution explained at that time that they needed more compelling evidence to support the premeditation required for a more serious charge.
Surveillance camera footage
A video from a surveillance camera at a house near Damian's home captured the exact moment El Taiger was shot.
Subsequently, the alleged attacker dragged the victim's body and cleaned the crime scene before leaving in the car towards the area surrounding the hospital where he abandoned the severely injured body of El Taiger.
Public records reveal an extensive criminal history for Valdez Galloso, which includes previous convictions for sexual assault, theft, and possession of firearms.
Additionally, ICE apprehended him on two occasions, and his last prison sentence ended in 2020. Since then, he has lived in Hialeah as a registered sex offender.
With bail denied since his arrest, Valdez Galloso remains in detention while his legal future is being assessed.
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