Cuban reggaeton singer El Tiger died on Thursday in an “unreasonable crime of violence”, nearly a week after he was mysteriously found in a car with a gunshot wound to his forehead. He was 37 years old.
El Tiger, whose real name is Jose Manuel Carvajal Zaldivar, crashed his Mercedes-Benz SUV with several gallons of fuel in the gas tank in Miami's Allapattah neighborhood just after 7 a.m. on October 4. It was discovered in the back seat.
“José Manuel Carvajal, known as “El Tigel,'' was the victim of a senseless and violent crime.'' Post on his Instagram story Read Thursday. “Sadly, this afternoon Mr. El Tiger was pronounced dead and has now been reunited with his beloved mother in heaven.”
The singer was rushed to nearby Jackson Memorial Hospital in “very serious condition,” according to Miami police. Secretary Manuel Morales.
“While this news is shocking and heartbreaking, we encourage all El Tiger fans to celebrate the joy he brought to so many fans and honor his memory. Let's turn up the music, dance and celebrate his life,” the post added. “El Tiger was a people's emotion, and now we must keep that emotion alive through his music and legacy.”
Fans gathered Thursday at a makeshift memorial outside the hospital, honking their car horns and playing the singer's music along.
“He was a friend of mine and a singer” Jonathan Esponda he told WSVN. “He was a big part of our community. He really was a big part of our community.”
“What's really important to us is that his music brought about change,” fan Daniel Andolan told the magazine.
Police believe he may have been shot somewhere else and then dumped near the hospital.
“We are confident that the incident did not take place on that corner where the car was found. This happened somewhere else, someone drove the car there, left it there, and left on foot. ,” said Miami Police Department Public Information Officer Mike Vega. he told Telemundo.
Police announced that one man is being questioned in connection with the murder investigation.
On Tuesday, Miami police released a wanted poster asking for help finding 49-year-old Damian Valdez Galasso for questioning in connection with the shooting.
“We are not sure if there are other people involved in the investigation,” Morales said Tuesday. “But for now, we need to speak to this gentleman today, so if the public can assist us, it will definitely help this investigation.”
Two gallons of gasoline were found inside the SUV, along with the seriously injured singer.
“We know there was a large amount of blood inside the SUV. He was in the back seat and officers had to open the back of the SUV to remove him,” a police spokesperson said. said the person.
El Tiger, who has more than 1 million followers on Instagram, was arrested in Miami in March 2023 on charges of drug possession and armed robbery.
He was arrested again in July on charges of armed robbery, assault and cocaine possession, and was out on bail when he was found with life-threatening injuries last week.
