An expanded report released by Univision on Thursday has unveiled further details surrounding the circumstances of El Taiger's death. An intriguing aspect revealed—according to journalist Javier Díaz, citing police documents—was that in her initial statements to authorities, Teresa Padrón mentioned accompanying El Taiger to a jewelry store on September 30, where she noticed he had a firearm.
Teresa recounted asking him to hand over the gun, removing the magazine, and then storing it at her home. Later, investigators found the weapon at the residence, and ballistic tests confirmed it had not been fired. Additionally, police pointed to the address 238 West and 8th Avenue in Hialeah, associated with Paraíso Motel, a location tied to the investigation where authorities discovered two plastic bags containing suspected fentanyl.
Univision also released footage showing Damian exiting an SUV at 7:17 a.m. on October 3 at his home after abandoning El Taiger's body near Jackson Memorial Hospital. Upon arriving at his residence, Damian continued to clean the crime scene. A previously unknown fact is that the forensic report confirmed El Taiger was declared brain-dead at 11:07 a.m. on October 10, and suffered cardiac death at 3:00 p.m. the same day.
The collection of images and data acquired by Univision for a clearer understanding of the events belongs to the State Attorney's office. These images have presented previously unseen evidence not only about the day El Taiger was shot but also about the subsequent investigation. Among these are photos taken when Damian Valdez-Galloso was arrested in New York City. The suspect was interviewed in a police room in New York where they photographed his chest, back, and arm tattoos.
Another newly publicized piece of evidence is an image showing the Mercedes Benz used to transport El Taiger's body from Hialeah to the vicinity of Jackson Memorial in the early hours of that fateful October 3. Particularly striking are the photos of Damian's home's entryway, where El Taiger was shot in the head. Several images showed the broken front door after police raided and searched the house for the suspect, shortly after El Taiger's injured body was found inside the vehicle.
The next court hearing for Damian Valdez-Galloso regarding El Taiger's murder is scheduled for December 19. On that day, as Teresa Padrón recently reported, the prosecution is expected to formally upgrade the charge from second-degree murder to first-degree murder.
Key Details in the Investigation of El Taiger's Death
What did Teresa Padrón reveal about the firearm?
Teresa Padrón revealed that she saw El Taiger with a firearm at a jewelry store on September 30, took the magazine out, and stored the gun at her house, where investigators later found it.
Where were the drugs found during the investigation?
The police discovered two plastic bags containing suspected fentanyl at Paraíso Motel, which is located at 238 West and 8th Avenue in Hialeah.
When was El Taiger declared brain-dead?
El Taiger was declared brain-dead on October 10 at 11:07 a.m., and later experienced cardiac death at 3:00 p.m. the same day.