A New York man was shot and killed while visiting Puerto Rico with a group of friends to see Bad Bunny perform in concert.
According to the Associated Press and CBS News, Kevin Mares, 25, was in the coastal San Juan neighborhood of La Perla early on Sunday, Aug. 10, when he became involved in a fight with two others.
Mares, who is thought to have been a bystander in the incident, was shot when one of the people arguing pulled out a gun.
He died at Puerto Rico’s largest public hospital after receiving a gunshot wound to the left side of his abdomen, according to reports.
Homicide Detective Sgt. Arnaldo Ruiz told the Associated Press that the person who pulled out a gun shot at least three people, including two local men. They were injured and remained in the hospital.
“We’re still in the process of determining why the events occurred. “We can’t rule anything out until the interviews are completed,” Ruiz told El Nuevo Dia.
The sergeant also confirmed that Mares and his three New York friends were among the thousands of people who had traveled to Puerto Rico to attend one of Bad Bunny’s 30 residency concerts.
According to Ruiz, investigators are unsure what the argument was about and do not yet have a description of the shooter.
“We have very little information,” he told me.
La Perla is on the outskirts of the Old San Juan historic district, which is a popular tourist destination, according to the Associated Press. La Perla had a history of violence, and police had avoided the community until 2011, when federal agents raided it, according to the outlet. Since then, the area has seen an increase in tourist visits.
Bad Bunny’s 30-night residency, “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquà (I Don’t Want to Leave Here),” is taking place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan’s Hato Rey neighborhood.
The musician will perform every weekend from Friday to Sunday, concluding on September 14.
Mares’ family remembered the 25-year-old as a “deeply loved son, devoted friend” who was planning to propose to his longtime girlfriend this year.
“His wholehearted kindness, adventurous spirit, and unwavering commitment to family made him a pillar of strength for his loved ones,” they wrote in a GoFundMe post, which has received over $14,000 in donations to help transfer his body from Puerto Rico to New York and hold a funeral.
“Kevin had a bright future ahead, with plans to propose to his girlfriend of six years this fall, and he was always creating memories with those closest to him,” a family member said. “Family was at the center of everything he did, and his sudden passing has left an unfillable void in our lives.”
A 25-year-old New York man was shot and killed while in Puerto Rico for a Bad Bunny concert. He had planned to propose to his girlfriend
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