It was meant to be a celebratory weekend—a trip filled with music, sun, and memories to last a lifetime. But for the Mares family of Queens, New York, a dream excursion to Puerto Rico for a Bad Bunny concert ended in unimaginable tragedy. Kevin Mares, a 25-year-old veterinary technician and aspiring veterinarian, was fatally shot in the early hours of August 10, 2025, in San Juan’s La Perla neighborhood, shattering the lives of those who loved him and raising hard questions about safety, violence, and the complexities of travel in unfamiliar places.
Kevin, born and raised in Queens to parents originally from Mexico, was by all accounts a young man with big dreams and a generous heart. He was working as a vet technician on Long Island while studying veterinary technology at LaGuardia Community College, with plans to become a full-fledged veterinarian. His love for animals was matched only by his devotion to his family and friends. “He was a lovely son. He cared. He cared about all of us, his family, friends. He has a lot of friends who are really going to miss him, too,” his mother, Sandra Mares, told WABC.
Kevin’s trip to Puerto Rico was part of a massive influx of visitors—an estimated 500,000 people—drawn by Bad Bunny’s sold-out 30-concert residency, aptly titled "No me quiero ir de aquí" ("I don’t want to leave here"). On August 9, the night before the tragedy, Kevin shared videos from his hotel, capturing a beautiful beach view and a lively pool party. The mood was festive, reflecting the excitement of the event and the vibrant culture of San Juan. But the following morning, everything changed.
According to police and multiple news outlets, Kevin and a small group of friends, including his girlfriend’s brother, decided to venture out from their hotel after the party. They found themselves in La Perla, a seaside shantytown on the outskirts of Old San Juan, which, despite its colorful murals and growing tourist appeal, has long struggled with a reputation for violence and drug trafficking. In fact, the area once sported a sign warning visitors to stay away—a stark reminder of the risks that sometimes lurk behind postcard-perfect facades.
As Kevin and his friends walked through La Perla, a heated argument erupted across the street, quickly escalating into a physical fight. “They were walking, and then across the street, it was like a bunch of people, arguing and they start fighting each other. So one of them, they took out a gun. So he starts shooting, like random,” Sandra Mares recounted to Eyewitness News. Kevin, who was not involved in the altercation, was struck in the abdomen by a stray bullet. Two local residents—a man and a woman in their 40s—were also wounded in the gunfire.
The events unfolded rapidly. Kevin was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later. The news sent shockwaves through his family and community back in Queens. “My son, everybody loves him, everybody,” his father, Hector Mares, told NBC New York. “He was doing good at school, he was working. When he came home from work, he started taking care of his pets, and he loves cooking.”
Kevin’s parents had cautioned him to stay within the safety of the hotel and resort. “We told him just stay in the hotel and that’s in the resort,” Hector recalled. But, as Sandra put it, “they’re young. When you’re young, sometimes you don’t think.” Kevin’s girlfriend, devastated by his loss, had stayed behind at the hotel that night. The couple had been together for six years, and Kevin was planning a special proposal for the fall. “He was about to propose to her, this fall. Yeah. He wants to do something special. He shared that with us,” Sandra said.
The Mares family’s grief has been compounded by the logistical and financial challenges of bringing Kevin’s body home to Queens. As reported by QNS and other outlets, his father launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the expenses of transferring his body from Puerto Rico to New York, as well as funeral and memorial costs. “Family was at the center of everything he did, and his sudden passing has left an unfillable void in our lives,” Hector wrote on the fundraising page. The Puerto Rican government has offered to cover the cost of returning Kevin’s body, but the earliest return date was projected to be at the end of the week following the shooting, leaving the family in a painful limbo as investigators continued their work.
Authorities have confirmed that Kevin was an innocent bystander, caught in the crossfire of a dispute that had nothing to do with him. The shooting took place outside a nightclub called Refugio de Hombres Maltratados (“Refuge for Mistreated Men”), and police say the dispute began inside before spilling onto the street. One of the men involved pulled out a handgun and fired multiple shots, striking Kevin and the two others. Homicide detective Sgt. Arnaldo Ruiz told NBC New York that Kevin was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time—a cruel twist of fate that has left his family searching for answers and justice.
In the aftermath, the Mares family has urged anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. “We just heard that nobody wants to talk over there. Nobody wants to say something ... you can be anonymous. You can find a way to say something,” Sandra pleaded, hoping that someone’s courage could help bring closure to their ordeal.
Kevin’s story has resonated far beyond his immediate circle. Friends, colleagues, and even strangers have rallied to support the family, sharing memories and tributes online. His girlfriend, Angy Arguello, posted a poignant message on Instagram: “My love, I love you. I miss you so much. Why God did you take him away from me?” The outpouring of grief is a testament to the impact Kevin had on those around him—a young man whose “wholehearted kindness, adventurous spirit, and unwavering commitment to family made him a pillar of strength for his loved ones,” as his family wrote on their GoFundMe page.
As the investigation continues, the Mares family clings to one simple wish: to bring Kevin home and honor his memory as he deserves. Their heartbreak is shared by a community—and perhaps, by anyone who has ever sent a loved one off on what should have been a joyous adventure, never dreaming it could end this way.