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Damián Valdez Galloso, arrested for the murder of Cuban singer El Taiger, was formally charged with first-degree murder this Wednesday, authorities reported.
The Prosecutor's Office presented the update on the charges against the fellow Cuban Valdez Galloso, who shot the 37-year-old reggaeton artist José Manuel Carvajal Zaldívar, known as El Taiger, on October 3rd.
In the early hours of that day, the popular artist was found inside a car with a gunshot wound to the head, outside Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where he died a week later. His passing marked a significant loss for the urban genre and Cuban music.
The formal charge against Valdez Galloso was filed this Wednesday, after a grand jury issued an indictment against him, and the case will be handled by Judge Milton Hirsch in the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, according to a report from Telemundo 51.
The defendant will answer to the justice system for three serious crimes: first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and illegal possession of firearms by a convicted felon, according to the judicial file.
The reading of charges hearing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. this Thursday, January 30, marking the formal start of the criminal proceedings against the accused. The prosecution must present the initial evidence, while Valdez Galloso's defense will outline its legal strategy.
For the charge of first-degree murder, Valdez Galloso could face life imprisonment or the death penalty in the state of Florida, if found guilty of the murder.
Initially, the Prosecutor's Office had charged the sole suspect in the homicide of the Cuban singer with second-degree murder, which was elevated to first degree at the end of last November.
The request for an increased criminal charge became a growing demand from thousands of the reggaeton artist's followers, the community, and his manager, Teresa Padrón, who led a petition campaign to intensify pressure on the authorities.
During the defendant's first appearance before the Miami-Dade criminal court, in early November 2024, Judge Mindy S. Glazer was the first to question why Valdez Galloso was not charged with a more serious offense, considering the circumstances described in the court records.
According to Glazer's analysis during the hearing, it appeared that there was "premeditation," based on the events involving a gunshot to the head followed by the manipulation of the victim's body. The judge denied bail for the second-degree murder charge.
The second-degree murder occurs without prior planning or deliberation; it is the result of an impulsive action or an intentional act in which the intention to kill did not exist at the beginning of the event. In contrast, in first-degree murder, the key is premeditation, being a plan that was formulated and considered before it was executed.
In the early hours of October 3, 2024, Valdez Galloso shot at El Taiger from the front door of his house and used a back door to leave.
In a video recorded by a surveillance camera from a nearby residence, the accused can be seen arriving seconds later at the front of his house - where El Taiger lies injured - dragging him by the ankles and loading him into a vehicle.
After cleaning the crime scene, Valdez Galloso changed his clothes and drove the car, dropping off the reggaeton artist near the trauma center of Jackson Memorial Hospital around 6:00 a.m.
Later, he himself made a call to 911. The police arrived at 6:45 a.m. at the location where the singer was bleeding from the head, in the back of a Mercedes Benz pickup, near the intersection of Northwest 9th Avenue and 17th Street, in Miami.
The reggaeton artist was immediately taken to the hospital, where he spent a week in critical condition before passing away on October 10.
Valdez Galloso, considered by the Police to be the sole responsible for the murder of El Taiger, was wanted as a "person of interest" in the case, and authorities offered $5,000 for information leading to his whereabouts.
Finally, he was captured on October 29 in New York, after being on the run for over 20 days.
On November 6, the accused was extradited to Miami-Dade, under strict security measures. Upon his arrival at Miami International Airport, he underwent a thorough inspection, following the standard protocol of the authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the process.
Valdez Galloso, 49 years old and known by the alias "El Narra", has a documented criminal history spanning over a decade that includes convictions for sexual offenses and thefts, as well as arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Between 2007 and 2018, he accumulated six convictions, including two cases for sexual relations with minors aged 16 to 17 years, and three for failing to register as a sex offender. Additionally, in 2018 he was convicted for grand theft, and in 2015 and 2019, he was detained by ICE.
He was released from prison for the last time in September 2020, and in 2021, he faced a charge for grand theft in Miami-Dade County.
Frequently Asked Questions about the El Taiger Murder Case
What is Damián Valdez Galloso accused of in the El Taiger case?
Damián Valdez Galloso has been accused of first-degree murder for the homicide of the Cuban reggaeton artist El Taiger. Additionally, he faces charges of tampering with physical evidence and illegal possession of firearms, due to his criminal record that includes sexual offenses and thefts.
What does it mean to be accused of first-degree murder in Florida?
In Florida, first-degree murder is a capital offense that can result in the death penalty or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, depending on the circumstances of the case. The prosecution requires evidence of premeditation or that the homicide occurred during the commission of another felony.
What was Teresa Padrón's role in the case?
Teresa Padrón, manager of El Taiger, has been a key figure in the case, leading a campaign to have the charges against Valdez Galloso upgraded to first-degree murder. She has mobilized the community through a petition and has maintained pressure on the Prosecutor's Office to ensure justice is served.
What evidence exists against Damián Valdez Galloso?
The evidence against Damián Valdez Galloso includes a surveillance video showing him shooting El Taiger, dragging his body, and tampering with the crime scene. This evidence has been crucial in elevating the charges to first-degree murder.
What is the current situation of Damián Valdez Galloso?
Damián Valdez Galloso remains detained without bail while the judicial process proceeds. A hearing for the reading of charges against the accused is scheduled for January 30, which will mark the formal commencement of the criminal proceedings against Valdez Galloso.
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