Suspect surrenders in fatal shooting of Dominican community leader

Authorities have taken into custody another individual implicated in the fatal shooting of community leader José Frank Valerio in Los Alcarrizos. José Enrique Corniel Jerez, also known as "Iker el Rabioso," surrendered to the police on Friday.

The National Police identified Corniel Jerez, 19, as the alleged shooter responsible for the bullets that killed Valerio on August 14. He was actively sought under arrest warrant No. 2026-AJ0070405. Corniel Jerez voluntarily presented himself at the Fugitive Search and Capture Department and is now under police custody, awaiting transfer to the Public Ministry.

According to the investigation, Valerio was attacked while at a motorcycle taxi stand. He succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. Preliminary findings by the National Police suggest the motive may have been a contract killing, with an estimated 50,000 pesos reportedly paid for the murder.

Prior to Corniel Jerez's surrender, police had already arrested Saulo Keli Núñez (Pelota), 22; Wander Javier Piña del Pozo, 27; and Eddy Manuel Arias Recio (Tata and/or Capullo). Five 9-millimeter shell casings were recovered from the crime scene as evidence. The police noted that Corniel Jerez's apprehension is part of an ongoing investigation, coordinated by the Public Ministry, to fully ascertain the circumstances of the homicide and determine individual responsibilities.