Michael Jackson’s children Prince and Paris pay tribute to uncle Tito Jackson following his death age 70

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 founder and Michael’s older brother suffered heart attacks on Sunday while driving from New Mexico to Oklahoma, a family spokesperson confirmed to DailyMail.com.

On Monday, 26-year-old Paris shared a throwback photo of her late father, who passed away in June 2009, and Tito on her Instagram Story. She also wrote, “Rest in peace, Uncle Tito,” with a red heart emoji.

Meanwhile, Prince, 27, shared a family group photo on his Instagram, which featured several members of the famous family gathered around Jackson matriarch Katherine. The caption read: “I love you forever, Poppa T.”

Tito’s son TJ quickly responded to the post, writing, “He always spoke so highly of you Prince and was so proud of the man you have become and your love for your family. Thank you for being such an amazing nephew to him.”

Paris paid tribute to her uncle Tito on her Instagram Story after his passing at the age of 70

On Monday, Steve Manning, a Jackson family friend and former manager, confirmed that Tito suffered a heart attack while on the road.

The music star told his best friend he “couldn’t breathe” and “didn’t feel well” just before being rushed to a New Mexico hospital, where he later died.

Terry Harvey Maltbia, Jackson’s business partner and best friend, told DailyMail.com exclusively that he and the singer were in Gallup and had stopped for a bite to eat before heading back to Tito’s ranch in Oklahoma.

“We just had turkey and chicken and laughed and talked,” Terry said Monday. “We were putting the top on the convertible because it started raining. Then Tito came back to the passenger window and said, ‘My chest hurts. Can you help Ronnie get the [car] top?”

“He said, ‘I don’t feel good in my chest.’ He wiped his face, took off his shirt, and it was like someone had thrown a bucket of water over him.”

Terry said he alerted officers who were in the area, and Jackson was rushed to a local hospital, where he died.

Tito’s remains, in the meantime, are under the jurisdiction of the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator.

An autopsy is still pending as the coroner waits for his remains to be transported to Albuquerque, where the examination will be conducted, said Chris Ramirez, spokesman for the coroner’s office.

Tito, pictured here in August 2018, sadly died of a heart attack on September 15 in New Mexico

Prince (left) shared this group photo of the family on his Instagram as he honored his uncle

Tito to perform with The Jacksons in California on August 31, 2024

Gallup, New Mexico police told DailyMail.com that a passerby flagged down officers at the American Heritage Plaza shopping center at 6:17 p.m. on Sunday because someone needed 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 moved from California to rural Claremore, OK, earlier this year, according to Tulsa World.

He told the publication he had found “the peace he was looking for” in the town of about 20,000, located at the foot of the Ozark Mountains.

“I always wanted to get away from the West Coast and live somewhere with new people and a new culture,” Tito said.

The musician is survived by his three children Taj, Taryll and TJ and his nine grandchildren.