During a Wednesday morning hearing in Miami, the prosecution announced an escalation in charges against Damian Valdez-Galloso, the sole suspect arrested in connection with the death of El Taiger (José Manuel Carbajal). The charge has been upgraded from second-degree to first-degree murder. This development was initially reported by Cuban journalist Maylin Legañoa from Telemundo 51.
The push for a more severe charge had been a growing demand among thousands of the reggaeton artist's fans, particularly led by his manager, Teresa Padrón. She spearheaded a petition campaign to exert pressure on authorities. Teresa hinted at the pending charge increase on her Instagram stories shortly after 9 a.m. local time, stating, "1st degree!!! God is great. Justice for José," expressing her relief and commitment to seeking justice for her deceased friend.
With the upgraded charge, Damian now faces a more severe penalty if found guilty. In addition to the murder charge, he still faces two other charges: tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. As of the article's publication, it remains unclear whether Damian was present at the hearing. Last week, he pleaded "not guilty" through his attorney.
Charges Escalate: From Second to First Degree
During the initial court appearance, Miami-Dade criminal court Judge Mindy S. Glazer questioned why Damian had not been charged with a more serious offense, given the circumstances outlined in court records. Judge Glazer suggested there appeared to be "premeditation," based on the events involving a headshot followed by tampering with the victim's body. The prosecution explained they needed stronger evidence to support the premeditation required for a more serious charge.
Surveillance Footage Evidence
A surveillance camera from a house near Damian's residence captured the exact moment when El Taiger was shot. The alleged assailant was then seen dragging the victim's body and cleaning the crime scene before driving towards a hospital, where he abandoned the severely injured El Taiger.
Public records reveal an extensive criminal background for Valdez-Galloso, including prior convictions for sexual assault, robbery, and firearm possession. Additionally, ICE has detained him twice, with his last prison release in 2020. Since then, he has lived in Hialeah as a registered sex offender.
With bail denied since his arrest, Valdez-Galloso remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue to unfold.