The case regarding the murder of the Cuban reggaeton artist José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar, known as El Taiger, has taken a dramatic turn following the release of a more detailed version of the police interrogation of Damian Valdez-Galloso, the only suspect so far in the crime.
In the three hours of recording provided by the authorities - and gradually disclosed by the media in recent days - the accused not only denies having committed the murder but also made serious accusations against the Miami police, suggesting that an officer might be involved in the events.
Damian even went so far as to say that the authorities have manipulated the video from the security camera of a neighboring house, footage that has become crucial evidence against him.
"That video was manipulated": Valdez-Galloso casts doubt on the evidence
During the interrogation conducted in New York, after he was captured and 19 days following the murder that occurred in the early hours of October 3 in 2024, Valdez-Galloso appeared defiant in the face of the evidence presented by the detectives.
When confronted with the video that, according to the police, shows the moment of the crime, the defendant responded emphatically: “That video was manipulated.”
On multiple occasions, he insisted that the recording did not reflect the truth: “It can't be, I am telling you the truth”, he told the detective.
When the agent confronted him with the statement that the version he explained "does not exist, that did not happen,” Valdez-Galloso reiterated his denial: “You all know that I did not kill him.”
Accusations of police complicity
One of the most tense moments of the interrogation was when Valdez-Galloso claimed that El Taiger arrived at his house accompanied by a man who, according to him, was a police officer.
"On the day of the murder, El Taiger arrived at my house with a man whom I believe was a police officer... and that person is now not shown in the recording."
This omission, according to his testimony, was decisive for him to leave Miami after the incident: “I knew that someone from the police was involved in this.”
The defendant also stated that he asked the federal Marshalls who arrested him in New York not to hand him over to the Miami police: “I knew this was going to happen”, he said, alluding to an alleged manipulation of the case against him.
Their version of events
Valdez-Galloso maintains that he did not commit the murder and recounts a story different from that presented by the investigators.
Ensure that El Taiger asked him for a loan of 20,000 dollars that night, despite already owing 18,000: “I told him, ‘José, if you owe me 18, where am I going to get 20,000 pesos from? Are you crazy or what?’”.
According to his testimony, around five in the morning on October 3, someone knocked loudly on his door: “Bang bang bang bang. I look out, and it’s José... and then I see that people are coming.”
He described one of the companions as “a heavyset white man with tattoos who spoke Spanish”, although he did not provide names or details that would allow for the identification of the other alleged accomplices.
Valdez-Galloso stated that after a brief conversation, the men accompanying El Taiger told the artist that he had until midnight to pay them the money.
Shortly after, he claims to have found the reggaeton artist bleeding in front of his house. He explained that he decided to call and take him close to the hospital because he had a gut feeling that he would recover and explain what had happened, something that ultimately did not occur due to El Taiger's death.
The official version of events
The authorities maintain a radically different narrative.
According to the sworn arrest declaration, El Taiger went to Valdez-Galloso's house in Hialeah, where he opened the door and shot him directly in the head.
The reggaeton artist was found unconscious in the back of an SUV near the intersection of NW 9th Avenue and 17th Street, and died seven days later, on October 10, due to the severity of the injury.
Legal repercussions
Damián Valdez-Galloso was formally charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and illegal possession of a firearm. The trial is scheduled to begin in September.
The seriousness of the charges increased when, on November 27, 2024, the Miami Prosecutor's Office decided to elevate the charge from second-degree murder to first-degree, suggesting they consider the crime to be premeditated.
Valdez-Galloso has stated that he acted in self-defense and pleaded not guilty. He was ordered to remain in custody without bail since the beginning of November.
Her lawyer, Marissa Altman Glatzer, has refrained from making public statements about the case.
Frequently asked questions about the murder of El Taiger and the allegations against Damián Valdez-Galloso
What are the main accusations against Damián Valdez-Galloso?
Damián Valdez-Galloso has been charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and illegal possession of a firearm in connection with the murder of El Taiger. The Miami Prosecutor's Office has decided to escalate the murder charge to first degree, suggesting premeditation in the crime. Valdez-Galloso has denied his guilt, claiming he acted in self-defense and that there was evidence tampering.
What evidence has been presented in the case of El Taiger's murder?
Authorities have released surveillance footage that allegedly shows Valdez-Galloso shooting El Taiger and dragging his body into a vehicle. Additionally, the 911 call made by Valdez-Galloso after leaving the artist's body near a hospital has been disclosed. Valdez-Galloso's defense claims that the video was tampered with and that other individuals, including an alleged police officer, were involved.
Why doesn't the Prosecutor's Office seek the death penalty for Damián Valdez-Galloso?
The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office has decided not to seek the death penalty for Damián Valdez-Galloso, despite the first-degree murder charges. The decision has sparked debate, as many fans of El Taiger were hoping for capital punishment as a consequence. If found guilty, Valdez-Galloso could face life in prison.
What does Damián Valdez-Galloso say about his involvement in the murder of El Taiger?
Valdez-Galloso denies having murdered El Taiger and claims that the artist arrived at his home accompanied by other individuals, one of whom was allegedly a police officer. He asserts that he did not shoot the reggaeton artist and that the evidence presented against him has been tampered with. His defense argues that he acted in self-defense and that he is not the material author of the crime.
When will the trial against Damián Valdez-Galloso take place?
The trial of Damián Valdez-Galloso is scheduled to begin on September 15. The process has been marked by delays due to the defense's claims of inconsistencies in the file. The case has garnered significant public attention, particularly among the Latin community and followers of El Taiger.
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