Santiago.- Amidst a strong police contingent, family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances of José Vladimir Valerio Estévez, the 25-year-old young hairdresser shot dead on September 10th during a police operation in La Barranquita, marched this Sunday in Santiago after completing the novena, demanding justice and the clearing of his name.
With banners in hand and slogans alluding to their request, the protesters demanded that the authorities remove Valerio from the list of alleged criminals, rejecting the official version that pointed to him as part of a criminal gang.
The walk began in front of the Provincial Government and went through several sections of Del Sol street until reaching the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration. The participants described Valerio as a young, hardworking, and dedicated person, assuring that he did not deserve to die in the way it happened.
Family members warned that they will not allow the case to be forgotten and demanded sanctions against the agents they consider responsible, whom they accused of staging a “massacre”.
In the shooting, recorded in the Valerio shopping plaza, on Olímpica Avenue, in addition to José Vladimir, Elvis Antonio Jiménez Rodríguez, Edward Bernardo Peña Rodríguez, Carlos Enrique Guzmán Navarro and Julio Alberto Gómez lost their lives.
Amid the investigations, Ronny Abel Sánchez Morillo (Mudita), identified by the Police as the alleged ringleader of the group, surrendered to the authorities, while Dereck Soto Mejía (Argelys), also identified as a leader of the structure, voluntarily appeared at the Palace of Justice in Santiago.
The Public Ministry is keeping open the investigations into the circumstances of the operation that left five dead, while Valerio’s family insists that the case be clarified and his innocence recognized.
The peaceful protest was attended by community members, politicians, and associates, under strict police surveillance.
