Tito Jackson found suffering from heart attack in New Mexico shopping centre before death

Legendary Jackson 5 singer Tito Jackson was seen suffering a medical emergency in public just hours before his death.

New Mexico police say Tito Jackson suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel before he died on Sunday.

Cops told the Daily Mail Monday that a passerby noticed Jackson was in need of medical attention shortly after 6pm while he was travelling from New Mexico to Oklahoma, where he recently moved.

The driver flagged down the police near the American Heritage Plaza shopping centre, where Jackson had seemingly stopped.

The Jackson 5 founding member was transported to the hospital via ambulance. However, he was pronounced dead hours later. The ABC singer was 70.

Tito Jackson was seen suffering a medical emergency outside a New Mexico shopping centre on Sunday. Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Tito was transported to the hospital via ambulance but died hours later. Picture: LEON NEAL / AFP

Steve Manning, Jackson’s former manager, claimed the musician had a heart attack while making the cross-state trek.

However, an autopsy has yet to be conducted and his official cause of death has yet to be revealed. A formal investigation is still ongoing.

Jackson’s sons — Taj, 51, Taryll, 49, and TJ, 46 — announced their father’s passing in a joint statement shared on their band 3T’s Instagram account Monday morning.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce that our beloved father, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Tito Jackson is no longer with us,” they wrote. “We are shocked, saddened and heartbroken.”

Tito’s sons shared this photo of the singer in an Instagram tribute.

The brothers described their dad as an “incredible man” who cared deeply about others and “their well-being.”

“Some of you may know him as Tito Jackson from the legendary Jackson 5, some may know him as ‘Coach Tito’ or some know him as ‘Poppa T,’” they continued. “Nevertheless, he will be missed tremendously.”

Sons Taj (left), TJ (second left) and Taryll (right) perform as 3T with their dad at the Michael Forever Tribute Concert in Wales in 2011. Picture: Tim Alban/Getty Images

The trio concluded their post by asking fans to honour their father by leading with love — just like he always did.

Tito rose to fame as a teen alongside his brothers — Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson — as they took the world by storm with their Motown hits.

The group was managed by their father, Joe Jackson, who died in 2018 at 89.

The Jackson Five was formed by the boys’ father Joe Jackson in 1964.

From left to right: Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Jermaine perform at the Monte Carlo Summer Festival in Monaco in 2014. Picture: VALERY HACHE / AFP

The iconic band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1997 and nominated for three Grammys.

A few decades after the band fizzled out, Tito embarked on his solo career, releasing Tito Time in 2016.

Although he continued to make music and perform up until his death, the hitmaker recently left behind the bright lights of Hollywood.

In 2023, the singer told Tulsa World that he “found the peace he was looking for” after moving to Claremore, OK, a small town with a population of less than 20,000.

“I always wanted to get away from the West Coast and experience living somewhere with new people and new culture,” Tito told the outlet, per the Daily Mail.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission