MIAMI – The shooting of El Taiger remained under investigation on Saturday, as police officers were guarding his room at the Highland Park Pavilion Jackson. Fans and friends held a prayer vigil outside on Friday night.
Police officers found the Cuban reggaeton artist, also known as Jose Carbajal and José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar, with a gunshot wound to the head, in a parked black Mercedes-Benz sports utility vehicle, on Thursday morning, in Allapattah.
Users on social media reported on Saturday afternoon that there was an overnight raid at a house in Hialeah where an alleged person of interest lives, but authorities had yet to confirm the report.
“Detectives are working arduously, following up on physical and electronic digital evidence that they might have at this time to try to get to the bottom of this incident,” Chief Manuel A. Morales said on Friday adding that they were working with other law enforcement agencies.
Morales did not specify if the forensics focused on information stored or transmitted electronically and he did not say if it was from computers, smartphones, cloud storage, or apps.
Miami Fire Rescue personnel also responded to the SUV, parked along Northwest 17 Street, on Friday, outside the Jackson Behavioral Health Hospital. There were two red gallons of gasoline on the roof of the SUV. The doors to the trunk and back passenger seats were open.
Fire rescue personnel rushed Carbajal, 37, of Havana, to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center around the corner. Morales said Carbajal underwent surgery and his condition was critical. Fellow Cuban artists visited the hospital to show their support.
“I know God is going to give you a chance to be right and again with us. Stay strong because you are a warrior! I’m waiting for you here, don’t let me down,” Alexander Delgado, of Gente De Zona, wrote on Facebook.
El Taiger’s management recently updated his site with a message to fans.
“Let’s come together and send all our love and positive energy for his fast recovery. Every prayer and good thought counts! Stay strong, a remember that our support makes a difference. We can’t wait to see him back and thriving!”