A Person Has Been Officially Charged With El Taiger's Murder

In Spanish

Damian Valdez-Galloso, initially identified by police as a person of interest in the murder of El Taiger in early October, has been formally charged with the crime and is currently being held in Miami on three charges.

Valdez-Galloso, who fled the scene of the crime, was found in New York City and taken to Miami. A convicted sex offender, he had failed to register after his prior release from jail as required by law.

According to public records from the Miami-Dade Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Valdez-Galloso faces three charges: second-degree murder with a weapon, tampering with physical evidence, and possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.

He was previously convicted as a sex offender and violated community registration requirements, which is also a crime. A resident of Hialeah in Greater Miami, Miami-Dade County, he has yet to be granted bail for the second-degree murder charge with a weapon.

Currently, his only set bail is $10,000 for failing to register as a sex offender.

El Taiger's Death

Unofficial reports suggest that Valdez-Galloso was born in Cuba. Police identified him shortly after José Manuel Carvajal, El Taiger's legal name, was found on October 3 after being shot in the head inside a black Mercedes Benz SUV near Jackson Memorial Hospital, which houses the city's top trauma unit.

According to police reports, the murder was believed to have occurred elsewhere, with the victim then transported in the SUV to a location near the hospital.

The Cuban artist passed away after spending seven days in critical condition with irreversible brain damage on October 10, never regaining consciousness. Fans in Cuba and abroad held vigils and special gatherings to mourn. His funeral took place in Miami last week, and his ashes were returned to his homeland following cremation.