A tragic and senseless crime out of Texas has left a family mourning the loss of a father whose only “mistake” was refusing to hand over his food stamp card. According to the Amarillo Police Department, 57-year-old Paluku Valantin was brutally beaten to death by three individuals over something as heartbreaking and infuriating as his SNAP benefits.
The incident happened on September 25, when police were called to a Bluebell residence around 2 p.m. after reports of a deceased man. When officers arrived, they found Valantin showing clear signs of assault. The crime scene was immediately turned over to the Homicide Unit, and by that same evening, investigators had already identified a suspect: 33-year-old Alline Ndayishimiye, per Suggest.
Within a day, two more arrests followed. Police confirmed that 18-year-old Dashaun Timothy Jackson and 33-year-old Thomas Seldon Rendon were also taken into custody and charged in connection with Valantin’s murder. All three now face serious charges with bonds ranging from $500,000 to $1 million.
Texas Man Dies After Refusing To Give Food Stamps To Thieves
According to the criminal complaint, witnesses told investigators that Valantin was attacked after refusing to give up his food stamp card. The suspects allegedly wanted his EBT card and his cellphone, and when he wouldn’t comply, things turned violent. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the brutal attack, showing Ndayishimiye speaking with Valantin before signaling to Jackson and Rendon, who then exited a black BMW and joined in the assault…