Kevin Mares, a 25-year-old veterinary student from Queens, New York, was looking forward to a summer trip with friends and his longtime girlfriend—a chance to see Bad Bunny, his favorite artist, perform in Puerto Rico. Instead, his family now faces heartbreak and unanswered questions after Mares was shot and killed early on August 10, 2025, while out in San Juan’s La Perla neighborhood. As the investigation continues and loved ones mourn, his story has cast a renewed spotlight on the complicated relationship between tourism, local safety, and the enduring struggles of Puerto Rico’s most notorious neighborhood.
Mares had arrived in San Juan with three friends, all from New York, eager to attend one of Bad Bunny’s 30-show residency concerts at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum—a series that’s drawn tens of thousands of fans to the island this summer, according to Newsweek. For months, he had looked forward to the trip, sharing beach views and pool party videos on social media the night before the tragedy. After the concert on Saturday evening, Mares, his girlfriend, her brother, and another friend decided to venture beyond the safety of their resort, heading into the coastal community of La Perla, a place known as much for its colorful murals as for its troubled past.
La Perla, perched on the edge of Old San Juan, has long been infamous for crime and violence. Once the island’s most notorious drug trafficking hub, the neighborhood was so dangerous that police posted signs warning outsiders to stay away. While a massive federal raid in 2011 helped curb some of the violence and the area gained new visibility after being featured in the hit music video “Despacito,” La Perla’s reputation for danger persists. Isolated violent incidents involving tourists have continued, including a stabbing in 2023 and a murder in 2024, as reported by NBC Miami and AP.
On the night of August 9, Mares and his friends found themselves at Shelter for Mistreated Men, a nightclub in La Perla. What should have been a night of celebration quickly turned tragic. According to police and multiple news outlets, an argument broke out between several people across the street from where Mares was standing. Suddenly, one of the individuals pulled out a gun and began firing randomly into the crowd. "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," Mares’ mother, Sandra, told WABC.
Mares, who was not involved in the dispute, was struck in the abdomen. His father, Hector Mares, recalled, "And my son was across the street and he got shot in the abdomen." He was rushed to Río Piedras Medical Center, Puerto Rico’s largest public hospital, but doctors could not save him. Two other people—a 45-year-old woman and her 46-year-old brother, both La Perla residents—were also shot and remain hospitalized, according to Newsweek and AP.
For Mares’ family, the news arrived with a phone call in the early hours of Sunday morning. His girlfriend, who had stayed at the hotel after the party, called his parents with the devastating update. "I said, 'What happened?' She said, 'I'm sorry. We lost him,'" Hector Mares recounted to CBS News. The family, surrounded by photos and memories, is left reeling. "He was a lovely son. He cared. He cared about all of us, his family, friends. He has a lot of friends who's really going to miss him, too," Sandra Mares told WABC.
Kevin Mares’ life was full of promise. Born and raised in East Elmhurst, Queens, he lived with his parents and 15-year-old brother. He was juggling two part-time jobs while studying to become a veterinarian, driven by a love for animals and an unshakeable work ethic. "He got a lot of dreams. He was working as a vet technician. And at the same time he was studying," his father said. He loved cooking, karaoke, and, above all, his family and longtime girlfriend. He was even planning to propose to her in the fall, a secret he had shared with his parents. "He was about to propose to her, this fall. Yeah. He wants to do something special. He shared that with us," Sandra said.
Now, instead of planning for a future wedding, the Mares family is navigating the painful logistics of repatriating Kevin’s body from Puerto Rico to Queens. “Family was at the center of everything he did, and his sudden passing has left an unfillable void in our lives,” loved ones wrote on a GoFundMe page created to help cover funeral expenses and bring him home. The family’s grief is compounded by the slow pace of the investigation and the fact that the shooter remains at large. Sgt. Arnaldo Ruiz of the Puerto Rico Police Department told El Nuevo Dia, “We are still very preliminary to establish a motive for the facts. We cannot rule out anything while the interviews are completed.” He added, “We have very little information at this point.”
The Mares family is urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. “We want justice,” Sandra Mares told CBS News. Their plea echoes a broader concern for visitor safety in Puerto Rico, where tourism is a crucial part of the economy. The island has reported 277 killings so far in 2025, compared with 325 in the same period last year, according to AP. While the overall trend is downward, incidents like this highlight persistent dangers, especially in areas with a history of crime.
La Perla’s evolution from a no-go zone to a tourist destination has been complicated. While the neighborhood’s vibrant street art and seaside views attract adventurous travelers, its legacy of violence lingers. Police have struggled to maintain order, and recent events have shown that the risks for outsiders remain real. In the wake of Mares’ death, questions are being raised about how to balance the allure of authentic local experiences with the need for safety—especially as high-profile concerts and events draw more visitors to Puerto Rico’s capital.
For now, the investigation continues. Police are interviewing witnesses and searching for the shooter, but have not released a suspect description. Local prosecutors will determine charges once a suspect is identified and a motive established. Meanwhile, the Mares family waits for answers, supported by friends and community members who remember Kevin as “a deeply loved son, devoted friend, and a source of inspiration to everyone who knew him.”
As the summer residency of Bad Bunny continues to fill San Juan’s streets with music and fans, the tragedy of Kevin Mares serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges that remain—both for local authorities and for those who seek to bridge the gap between vibrant tourism and lasting safety in Puerto Rico’s most storied neighborhoods.