Ever Valles and Nathan Valdez. (DA photo)
Ever Valles and Nathan Valdez are accused of murdering a man at a light rail station in Denver.
One of the men – Valles – is also accused of being in the country illegally. According to a tweet from a 9 News reporter on February 17, “Man charged in light rail station murder flagged for deportation months ago. Walked out of Denver jail before ICE pickup.”
The men, both 19, were charged February 17 in the murder of Tim Cruz.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. ICE Had Placed a Detainer on Valles Several Months Before the Murder
According to 9 News, Valles had already caught the attention of immigration authorities several months before the murder.
“A source within ICE confirms to 9Wants to Know ICE placed a detainer on Ever Valles, 19, back in October shortly after Denver Police arrested Valles on a car theft case,” the television station reported.
However, despite the detain hold, Valles was released on $5,000 bail in December. ICE says he’s a gang member and the detain hold was not “honored,” and the jail said it told ICE he was being released, according to 9 news.
2. The Two Men Are Accused of Robbing the Victim at a Light Rail Station
Nathan Valdez Second Person Busted in Tim Cruz’s RTD Light-Rail Station Murder (PHOTOS)
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Both men are accused of robbing the victim at a Denver-area light rail station. The shooting occurred around 1 a.m. on February 7.
Tim Cruz, 32, was shot to death at the RTD station. Both men were hit with a slew of charges on February 17, including “murder in the first degree-robbery, murder in the first degree-kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping and second-degree kidnapping-gun,” according to The Denver Post.
3. Valles Was Arrested on a Parole Violation & Has a Criminal History
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According to the Denver Post, Valles was arrested the day after the murder “on a parole violation.” Police arrested Valdez on February 10.
The Post reported that Valles’ prior record includes misdemeanor drug and drug paraphernalia possession convictions as well as pending October charges for “vehicle theft, vehicular eluding and weapon possession by a previous juvenile offender.”
4. Valles Allegedly Claimed Valdez Pulled the Trigger & Also Shot Valles
Two teens formally charged with murder, robbery for Denver light rail killing – The Denver Channel t.co/FhGLtaEiww
The Denver Post reported that Valles confessed to robbing Cruz, but blamed Valdez for shooting him.
Valles then accused his accomplice of also shooting him, saying, “You saw too much,” the newspaper reported.
5. Police Released Video Surveillance Photos That Allegedly Show the Men in Masks
DenverWestword: RTD: How We’re Responding to Security-Officer Murder, Light-Rail Station Slaying (PHOTOS)
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Before the men were captured, police released photos from a video surveillance camera.
They were both wearing masks; one of the masks covered only part of the man’s face and had a skull on it, police said.