A 25-year-old music fan was shot just hours before he was due to see Bad Bunny perform, leaving his girlfriend heartbroken as police scrambled to find the killer.
The tourist was in Puerto Rico for the star’s blockbuster residency shows when violence erupted in the early hours of Sunday.
25-year-old Bad Bunny fan was killed in a shooting in La Perla, Puerto Rico[/caption]
The fan was in Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s blockbuster residency shows (stock image)[/caption]
The shooting unfolded around 4:13 am at a nightspot called ‘Refuge for Mistreated Men’ in La Perla[/caption]
Cops identified the victim as Kevin Mares, from New York, who was visiting the island with three friends.
The shooting unfolded around 4:13 am at a nightspot called “Refuge for Mistreated Men” in La Perla, a seaside community on the edge of Old San Juan.
Police said Mares was caught in the crossfire when an argument between several people turned violent, according to the Associated Press.
“We have very little information,” homicide detective Sergeant Arnaldo Ruiz told AP.
He said one person pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting at least three people, including Mares.
A local brother and sister in their mid-40s were also wounded and remain in the hospital.
Mares was rushed to the island’s largest public hospital after being shot in the left side of his abdomen.
Doctors were tragically unable to save him and he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Mares’ family said that after attending the Bad Bunny concert Saturday night, he and his friends spent the evening out before leaving their resort in Old San Juan for a nightclub in La Perla.
“Across the street, there was a bunch of people, and then they started arguing, something, and some guy, he had a gun, took it out and start shooting,” his father, Hector Mares, told CBS.
Kevin’s parents learned of his death in a gut-wrenching call from his girlfriend early Sunday.
“I said, ‘What happened?’ She said, ‘I’m sorry. We lost him,’” Hector recalled.
“Whoever did this, I mean, it’s like he took from us a piece of us, you know?” Kevin’s mother, Sandra Mares, said.
Kevin grew up in Queens and lived in East Elmhurst with his parents and 15-year-old brother.
Recent violence in La Perla
- February 2023 – Three tourists stabbed after being told to stop filming in the community.
- April 2024 – 24-year-old tourist killed and his body set on fire after a drug purchase and an attempt to take pictures despite warnings.
- August 2025 – US tourist fatally shot while visiting Puerto Rico for a Bad Bunny concert
Crime context:
- Violence in La Perla has declined since a 2011 federal intervention.
- Puerto Rico recorded 277 killings through August 2025, down from 325 in the same period in 2024.
- A 2022 Giffords.org report found Puerto Rico’s gun homicide rate was higher than any US state.
He was studying to become a veterinarian and juggled two part-time jobs while pursuing his degree. His family said he loved to cook and belt out karaoke.
A devoted Bad Bunny fan, Mares had been counting down the days to the Puerto Rico trip with his girlfriend and friends.
“Every time Bad Bunny comes here, they go to most all of his concerts,” Sandra said.
With the killer still on the loose, his parents are urging anyone with information to speak up.
“We want justice,” Sandra said.
The Mares family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of bringing Kevin’s body back to Queens so they can lay him to rest.
The Mares family launched a GoFundMe to help cover costs of bringing Kevin’s body back to the US[/caption]
Kevin’s parents learned of his death in a gut-wrenching call from his girlfriend[/caption]
According to Ruiz, Kevin Mares’ friends told police they had flown in for one of Bad Bunny’s 30 concerts, which have drawn tens of thousands of visitors.
The detective confirmed Mares was an innocent bystander of the shooting.
Officers do not yet know what sparked the deadly fight, and they have no description of the shooter.
San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero said security footage from the area will be shared with investigators.
He also revealed Mares’ girlfriend had chosen not to go to La Perla with him that night.
The shooting happened despite city rules limiting alcohol sales to 1 am on weeknights and 2 am on weekends or before holidays.
LA PERLA’S DARK IMAGE
La Perla, once Puerto Rico’s most notorious drug hub, has tried to shed its dangerous image in recent years.
The neighborhood gained global fame after featuring in the music video for Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s hit “Despacito.”
But sporadic violence still plagues the area.
In February 2023, three tourists were stabbed after being told to stop filming inside the community.
In April 2024, a tourist from Delaware was killed and set on fire after police said he and a friend tried to take photos despite warnings.
Puerto Rico has recorded 277 killings so far this year, down from 325 during the same period in 2024.
He was studying to become a veterinarian and juggled two part-time jobs while pursuing his degree[/caption]
Mares’ friends told police they had flown in for one of Bad Bunny’s 30 concerts[/caption]
