Cuban-born artist El Taiger has passed away just a week after he was shot in the head.
On Thursday, October 10, the family of the reggaetón artist, born José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar, confirmed he died at Jackson Memorial Hospital. In a statement they posted to his Instagram Story, the family thanked the team of doctors and nurses who attempted to save his life. The 37-year-old musician spent the past week at the hospital after police found him inside a black Mercedes-Benz SUV with a gunshot wound at the front of his head. He was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery and was placed on life support. Unfortunately, he didn't survive.
“Sadly, this afternoon, El Taiger was pronounced dead and is now reunited with his beloved mother in heaven," the statement said in Spanish. "While this news is both shocking and heartbreaking, we encourage fans of El Taiger to honor his memory by celebrating the joy he brought to so many... Turn up your music, dance and celebrate his life. El Taiger was the sentiment of the people, and now we must keep that sentiment alive through his music and his legacy.”
The investigation into the "Rulay" artist's death is currently underway. At first, investigators could not confirm or deny that the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. However, police confirmed on Thursday that it was officially a homicide investigation. According to the artist's manager Macel Reinosa, police are searching for a person of interest, Damien Valdez-Galloso. He knew El Taiger personally and allegedly reported the artist's death to police.
"Nobody in the team believes that he committed suicide, based on what they are saying on the bullet," Reinosa told CBS News Miami. "It was in the front of his head so I would really doubt someone would shoot himself and then get on the back of the trunk by himself."
El Taiger became major force in the Cubaton genre after he released his debut album Taiger in 2016. Since then, he has worked with artists like Jacob Forever and was featured on The Fate of the Furious soundtrack in 2017. He dropped his recent album 10 Exitos Duro over the summer and recently dropped a new collaboration with Charly & Johayron and Bebeshito.
See the Enrique Santos Show's tribute to El Taiger below. May he rest in peace.