Manuel A. Morales, the chief of Miami's police force, recently announced significant progress in the investigation into the murder of El Taiger. He expressed optimism that the case could be resolved soon, providing answers to the many questions posed by fans of the slain reggaeton artist. However, Morales remained elusive during an interview with Univision journalist Mario Vallejo.
Details of the Investigation Remain Under Wraps
Morales neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a video capturing the moment José Manuel Carbajal (El Taiger) was shot on the night of October 3. “At this moment, we are not prepared to discuss such detailed aspects of the investigation,” Morales stated, emphasizing the need to protect certain elements to avoid hindering the detectives' work. When Vallejo inferred from Morales' response that a video might exist, Morales replied, “You can assume whatever you want, but official verification from the police department is not forthcoming at this time.”
Importance of Evidence in Solving the Case
On the significance of any video evidence, Morales mentioned, “Any type of evidence in this case would be crucial not only for making an arrest. Making an arrest is the easy part. The hard part is gathering enough evidence to bring the case to court and secure a conviction to the standard required by our legal system.”
When asked about the possibility of video evidence showing who was driving the car or if more than one person was involved, Morales was tight-lipped. “We have a lot of evidence at this time. We are not ready to discuss the details of the evidence,” he initially responded, followed by, “At this moment, we are not prepared to disclose those details.”
Community Assistance and Investigation Progress
Morales assured that they have “substantial evidence in this case” and praised the detectives for their hard work in collecting it. He also acknowledged the assistance received from individuals willing to cooperate with the investigation. When asked if anyone is currently under arrest, Morales responded negatively but added, “Very soon, you will have many of the answers to the questions posed today.”
Speculations and Key Persons of Interest
In the interview shared by Mario Vallejo, there was no mention of Damian Valdez-Galloso, who has been considered a "person of interest" from the beginning of the investigation. Recently, Univision journalist Daniel Benítez commented on a crucial video allegedly showing the exact moment El Taiger was shot. However, he noted that the video alone might not provide all the evidence needed to identify the shooter. Benítez reported that police sources do not believe—contrary to speculation on social media—that El Taiger's murder is linked to the Latin Kings or other criminal gangs.
For authorities, Damian Valdez-Galloso remains a central figure in the investigation, although no arrest warrant has been issued against him yet. Influencer Alexander Otaola has also mentioned the video, providing additional details. Otaola, although not having seen the footage himself, described it as showing El Taiger arriving at Damian's Hialeah residence in the early hours, visibly angry. After kicking a fence, a man emerged from the property, and following a scuffle, the man retrieved a gun and shot El Taiger, who fell to his knees.
Plea for Public Assistance and Investigation Details
In a press conference shortly after the incident, Chief Morales ruled out the possibility that the El Taiger incident was a suicide attempt, labeling it a “criminal act.” Morales appealed to the public for help in locating Damian Valdez-Galloso, 49, declared a "person of interest" in the reggaeton artist's case. Previous police findings indicated that Valdez-Galloso was among the last individuals to be with El Taiger before he was discovered with a gunshot wound.
Valdez-Galloso's aunt has pleaded for the public and social media not to criminalize Damian's family or expose them. El Taiger passed away on October 10 after spending a week in critical condition at Jackson Memorial Hospital, following his discovery in a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head. This Friday, it was reported that El Taiger's cousin, Jorge Jr., announced he would soon return to Cuba with the artist's ashes.