Insets, from left to right: Suspects Thomas Rendon, Alline Ndayishimiye, Dashaun Jackson, and victim Paluku Valantin (Amarillo Police Department/Lighthouse Funeral and Cremation Services). Background: The 1100 block of Bluebell Street in Amarillo, Texas, where Paluku Valantin lost his life (Google Maps).
A 57-year-old father of two was tragically killed in Texas by three individuals looking to steal his food stamp card, which they grabbed after brutally attacking the man and striking him over the head with a glass bottle, as reported by police.
Paluku Valantin, residing in Amarillo, was discovered by a local who attempted to help him recover at their home, although the injuries he sustained turned out to be fatal. These injuries were allegedly inflicted by suspects Thomas Rendon, 33, Alline Ndayishimiye, 30, and Dashaun Jackson, 18, as per local CBS affiliate KFDA.
The Amarillo Police Department issued news alerts following the incident, explaining that Valantin succumbed to head and facial injuries inside the witness’s home after being assaulted on the 1100 block of Bluebell Street. Authorities mentioned to KFDA that Valantin was in possession of an EBT food stamp card that the suspects wanted to obtain.
Security footage obtained by APD investigators allegedly shows Ndayishimiye approaching Valantin and demanding the card from him.
When Valantin resisted, Ndayishimiye allegedly signaled Rendon and Jackson to exit their black BMW to attack the victim, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, police reported.
Authorities apprehended Ndayishimiye, Jackson, and Rendon the day following the incident, charging them with aggravated robbery and murder. Witnesses claimed they also took Valantin’s cellphone along with the EBT card.
The man who found him dying told police he thought Valantin had fallen asleep inside his bathroom before he eventually discovered that Valantin was dead. His obituary says he’s survived by two sons.
Online court records show that Ndayishimiye, Jackson and Rendon were still behind bars Monday awaiting their next court dates.
