Michael Jackson’s children Prince and Paris have paid tribute to their uncle, Tito, following his sudden death at the age of 70 on September 15.
The Jackson 5 founding member and Michael’s older brother suffered a heart attack while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma on Sunday, a family representative confirmed to DailyMail.com.
Taking to her Instagram Story on Monday, Paris, 26, shared a throwback photo of her late father – who passed away in June 2009 – and Tito and wrote alongside it, ‘Rest in transition Uncle Tito,’ with a red heart emoji.
Meanwhile, Prince, 27, shared a group family photo on his Instagram which included several members of the famous family surrounding Jackson matriarch Katherine, and captioned it: ‘Love you forever Poppa T.’
Tito’s son TJ was quick to comment on the post and wrote: ‘He always spoke so highly about you Prince and was so proud of the man you have become and your love for family. Thank you for being such a great nephew to him.’
Tito Jackson pictured with brother Michael’s three children Prince, Paris, and Blanket in 2012
Paris paid tribute to her uncle Tito on her Instagram Story following his death at the age of 70
On Monday, Steve Manning – the Jackson’s family friend and former manager – confirmed that Tito suffered a heart attack while he was on the road.
The music star told his best friend he ‘couldn’t breathe’ and ‘wasn’t feeling good’ moments before he was rushed to a New Mexico hospital where he later died.
Terry Harvey Maltbia, Jackson’s business associate and best friend, told DailyMail.com exclusively that he and the singer were in Gallup, and had stopped for some food before getting back on the road to Tito’s ranch in Oklahoma.
‘We just got done eating turkey and chicken, laughing and talking,’ Terry said on Monday. ‘We were putting the top on the convertible because it started raining. That’s when Tito came back on the passenger side window and said, “My chest is hurting. Can you help Ronnie to finish the [car] top?”
‘He said, “I ain’t feeling good in my chest.” He wiped his face off, took off his shirt and it was like someone had threw a bucket of water on him.’
Terry said he flagged officers who were nearby and Jackson was then rushed to a local hospital, where he passed away.
Tito’s remains will be under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator in the meantime.
An autopsy has yet to be conducted while the Medical Examiner waits for his remains to be transported to Albuquerque, where the examination will be conducted, said Chris Ramirez, spokesman for the medical investigator’s office.
Tito, pictured here in August 2018, sadly died of a heart attack in New Mexico on September 15
Prince (left) shared this group family photo on his Instagram as he paid tribute to his uncle
Tito performing with The Jacksons in California on August 31, 2024
Gallup Police in New Mexico told DailyMail.com that a passerby flagged down cops on Sunday at 6:17 pm at the American Heritage Plaza shopping center because of an individual who required medical attention.
Police identified the man as Tito, who was transported in an ambulance to a local hospital in Gallup. He was later pronounced dead.
The father-of-three had moved out of California to the countryside of Claremore, OK earlier this year, according to Tulsa World.
He told the publication that he ‘found the peace he was looking for’ in the small city of about 20,000 residents, which is located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.
‘I always wanted to get away from the West Coast and experience living somewhere with new people and new culture,’ Tito said.
The musician is survived by his three children Taj, Taryll, and TJ, and his nine grandchildren.