American tourist killed during trip to Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny

Kevin Mares, a 25-year-old American tourist who was in Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s residency, died in the early hours of Sunday, August 10. According to initial reports, he was shot while visiting a nightclub called “Refugio para Hombres Maltratados,” located in the seaside neighborhood of La Perla, just outside Old San Juan.

Homicide detective Arnaldo Ruiz said the shooting began after several people started arguing near the young man. One of them pulled out a gun and opened fire on three people, including Mares, who was struck twice — once in the abdomen and once in the side. All the victims were taken to a nearby hospital, but Mares died shortly after arriving in the emergency room. The other injured victims remain hospitalized, while the gunman is still at large.

Kevin Mares planned to propose to his girlfriend

After confirming the young man’s death, his family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the expenses of bringing his body back to New York. In it, relatives shared that among his plans was to propose to his girlfriend this fall. The couple had been together for six years.

“His unconditional kindness, adventurous spirit, and unwavering commitment to family made him a pillar of strength for his loved ones,” the post’s caption read. “Family was at the heart of everything he did, and his sudden passing has left an unfillable void in our lives,” they added.

Mares’ case is not unusual for the area. La Perla was once a hub for drug trafficking, and its level of danger was so high that even the police stayed away. However, after a federal raid in 2011, violence declined somewhat, though the danger persists.

In 2023, two tourists were stabbed in a similar incident after locals became upset that they were filming the neighborhood.

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