Teresa Padrón, a close friend and manager of El Taiger, addressed the media outside the courthouse this Wednesday, revealing that the prosecution plans to elevate the charge against Damian Valdez-Galloso from second-degree to first-degree murder. Valdez-Galloso is the sole suspect in the reggaeton artist's death. "They are going to upgrade the charge to first degree. The prosecution confirmed it to me. I can't disclose much about our conversation, but I can say they are moving forward with the charge increase," Teresa stated. She further clarified that the formal announcement will occur at the next hearing on December 19.
Expressing her emotions, Teresa added, "I feel extremely elated right now. I'm super happy. We did it." These comments appeared in a longer video posted on YouTube by Urbano Yuri DJ. When asked about the implications of this change in charges, Teresa responded firmly, "This means he could face the death penalty."
While unable to share specific details of her discussion with the prosecution, Teresa hinted that she and others might need to testify in the future. The Cuban businesswoman described the charge elevation as another step toward seeking justice for El Taiger, his family, and his children.
Legal Developments and Public Reaction
Regarding Damian's absence from court for the second consecutive week, Teresa dismissed its significance, mentioning that a judge will issue an order requiring his presence when deemed necessary. "I didn't know if he was going to show up or not, but that's not why we're here. We're fighting for the justice Jose deserves. Whether he is here or not doesn't change anything," she asserted. "We'll keep fighting and see you on December 19."
Urbano Yuri DJ, who attended the brief hearing, noted that Damian's new attorney made several arguments, but the key takeaway was Teresa's conversation with the case's prosecutor after the session. The call for a charge increase has gained momentum over recent weeks, driven by thousands of the reggaeton artist's fans and particularly by Teresa, who spearheaded a petition campaign to intensify pressure on authorities.
Teresa had previously hinted at the announcement in her Instagram stories earlier that morning. "1st degree!!! God is great. Justice for Jose," she wrote, referring to the late reggaeton artist.
Escalating Charges and Legal Proceedings
With the upgraded charge, Damian could face a harsher penalty if convicted of murder. In addition to the murder charge, he also faces accusations of evidence tampering and firearm possession as a convicted felon.
During the initial hearing, Miami-Dade criminal court Judge Mindy S. Glazer was the first to question why a more severe charge wasn't initially filed, given the circumstances described in the court records. According to Glazer, there appeared to be "premeditation" based on events involving a gunshot wound to the head and subsequent tampering with the victim's body. However, the prosecution previously stated they required more substantial evidence to support the premeditation necessary for more serious charges.
Surveillance Footage and Criminal History
Surveillance footage from a nearby property captured the moment El Taiger was shot. The alleged assailant then dragged the victim's body, cleaned the crime scene, and drove off, abandoning the gravely injured El Taiger near a hospital.
Public records reveal Valdez-Galloso's extensive criminal history, including previous convictions for sexual assault, robbery, and firearms possession. He has been detained by ICE twice, with his most recent prison release occurring in 2020. Since then, he resided in Hialeah as a registered sex offender.
Denied bail since his arrest, Valdez-Galloso remains in custody as his legal fate is determined.