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Cuban reggaeton artist El Taiger (José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar), 37, passed away after seven days in critical condition with irreversible brain damage following a shooting on October 3, 2024, in Miami.
The artist was found in the back seat of his car with a gunshot wound to the head near Jackson Memorial Hospital, where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit on life support.
The attack sent shockwaves through the music community and his fans, who flooded social media with messages of support and prayers for his recovery. The attack sent shockwaves through the music community and his fans, who flooded social media with messages of support and prayers for his recovery.
The hashtag #FuerzaTaiger is trending on social media, showing support from thousands of fans and support from other urban music artists. Gente de Zona, Willy Chirino, Jacob Forever and other colleagues in the genre expressed concern and solidarity outside the hospital and through their music.
On October 9, representatives of El Taiger stood outside Jackson Memorial Hospital and released a statement confirming that they were waiting for the artist’s immediate family from Cuba to come to Miami through humanitarian visas so they could can make the necessary decisions regarding your condition.
Statement from his team
On October 10, through @el_taiger’s Instagram Stories, his team shared a statement thanking the medical team at Jackson Memorial Hospital and encouraging El Taiger fans to honor his memory. through his music, he said he has been “the voice of the people” throughout. his life.
“Unfortunately, this afternoon, El Taiger was pronounced dead and he has now reunited with his beloved mother in heaven,” the statement read.
Official statement about El Taiger @el_taiger/Instagram
A suspect in sight
The Miami Police Department has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of 49-year-old Damián Valdez-Galloso. He is wanted for questioning in connection with the plot to murder Cuban singer El Taiger. Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales stated, “We can confirm that this is not a suicide; this is a criminal act that is under investigation. We are here to ask for the public’s help in locating Mr. Damián Valdez-Galloso, residing in Hialeah.”
As we previously reported, Valdez-Galloso, aka “El Narra”, allegedly paid for the hotel room where El Taiger spent the night on Wednesday, October 2, just one day ago when he was found in his car. Additionally, images shared on social media showed them together that evening.
Sources close to the artist confirmed to local media that El Taiger and El Narra have a close relationship.
Who is El Taiger?
El Taiger began his music career in the early 2000s, breaking into a genre that was exploding across Latin America and the Caribbean. Throughout his career, he has worked with various producers and collaborated with renowned artists in the reggaeton genre, establishing himself as one of the most influential vocalists in the reggaeton genre. of Cuba.
El Taiger is known for his strong style and lyrics about life on the streets, hardships and the journey to success. Songs such as “Habla Matador”, “Coronamos” and “La Historia” became hits that put him on the international radar. His ability to combine reggaeton rhythms with more traditional Cuban sounds has allowed him to stand out in a highly competitive genre.
On and off the stage, El Taiger’s life was filled with controversy. In July this year, the singer was arrested in Miami for armed robbery and assault, causing a stir in both Cuban and American media. Despite these incidents, El Taiger remains relevant in the urban music scene, being one of the most influential artists in the Cuban reggaeton scene.
Tags Rapper, Miami, Shooting, Death