Originally appeared on E! Online
El Taiger is in critical condition.
The Cuban Reggaeton singer—whose real name is José Manuel Carbajal Zaldívar—was brought to Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital on Oct. 3 to undergo surgery for a gunshot wound, hospital officials confirmed with local outlet NBC6.
“As of now, he is in a critical state,” El Taiger’s rep shared with E! News Oc. 4. “He has undergone surgery, and the medical team has placed him in an induced coma to facilitate the healing process of his brain and reduce inflammation.”
Miami Police Spokesperson Mike Vega told Telemundo 51 that police found an unresponsive man with a gunshot wound to his forehead in the back of an SUV close to the hospital. Evidence suggested the shooting did not take place in the car, as there were no traces of blood.
As Vega noted, “We know there was a lot of blood inside the SUV. He was in the back, and officers had to open the back of the SUV to get him out.”
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“Our officers are investigating because we believe this did not happen in the city of Miami,” he continued. “We are certain it did not happen on that corner where the car was found. This happened somewhere else, someone drove it there, left it and left on foot.”
Authorities reportedly also found two gallons of gasoline in the SUV’s trunk. Per Telemundo 51, citing authorities, police are still investigating the motive of the shooting and have interviewed a person of interest.
El Taiger’s lawyer Greg Chonillo added to Telemundo 51 that “there is some evidence that may suggest that there was another person who was with him.”
The outlet also notes that reports from Jackson Memorial Hospital note El Taiger is still alive following his surgery, but that he remains in critical condition.
E! News has reached out to local law enforcement as well as El Taiger’s rep but did not receive comment.
Following the news of the popular singer’s injury, a number of his peers have spoken out expressing their disbelief.
“I’m watching a lot of news,” singer Jacob Forever wrote on Instagram Oct. 3. “I call the skinny guy and he doesn’t answer me and just to think that it’s true that you’re serious in a hospital that breaks my heart.”
He continued, “I just ask God that you get out of whatever thing that happened and we’ll see each other again and me you smile like the last time i saw you and hug me like that my brother.”
Similarly, six-time Latin Grammy winner Alexander Delgado Hernandez wrote, alongside a photo of himself and El Taiger, “I know God is going to give you a chance to get well and again with us. Stay strong because you are a warrior! I’m waiting for you here, don’t let me down!”
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