El Taiger, Cuban reggaeton star, shot in Miami, remains in critical condition

MIAMI — Police said Cuban reggaeton artist Jose Manuel Carbajal Zadivar, known professionally as El Taiger, remains in critical condition after he was found shot in the head in Miami on Thursday morning.

The incident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. when officers responded to reports of a man shot in the head inside a black Mercedes SUV near NW 17th St. 10 Ave. 

First responders rushed El Taiger to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he was placed on life support.

Before going to the hospital, manager Macel Reinosa told CBS News Miami that there is a person of interest, someone who he said knows the artist and the person allegedly called 9-1-1.

“Nobody in the team believes that he committed suicide, based on what they are saying on the bullet,” Reinosa said. 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.”

On Friday, City of Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales told reporters that the 37-year-old man remains hospitalized.

“We’re confident that we’ll get to the bottom of this and solve this incident,” he said. “It is a tragic incident that has shaken our local South Florida community.”

Morales said that detectives are working arduously to gather more evidence and are not identifying suspects now. He also said they know who the owner of the SUV that El Taiger was found, but they are not ready to identify them now.

Morales also said that though there are some circumstances and details of the incident that police are aware of, they are not ready to divulge further details because they do not want to risk the investigation’s integrity.

“If we determine that the case is criminal in nature, then we don’t want to risk our ability to prosecute those who are responsible, bring them to justice and bring any type of justice to the family or the victim,” he said.

Morales said since the police is still very early into the investigation, anyone with information should call (305) 579-6111 or (305) 471-TIPS (8477) to help with the case.

El Taiger is well-known in the Latin music scene, particularly for his contributions to reggaeton, a genre that blends Caribbean rhythms with urban beats. 

A candlelight vigil took place Friday night where El Taiger was found shot.