Tourist's Death in La Perla During Puerto Rico Visit for Bad Bunny Performance
La Perla, a small seaside town in Puerto Rico, has once again found itself in the spotlight due to a tragic incident. On a fateful Sunday night, Kevin Mares, a 25-year-old tourist from New York, was fatally shot at a local nightspot called "Shelter for Mistreated Men."
Mares, who was an innocent bystander, was with three other friends who were in town for a Bad Bunny concert. The shooting occurred due to an argument among several people, resulting in one individual pulling out a gun and shooting at least three people. Mares was shot on the left side of his abdomen and was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Two other men on the scene, who live in La Perla, are currently hospitalized with injuries.
The shooting underscores that serious violent crime persists in La Perla, a neighbourhood with a history of significant violence and crime. Prior to 2011, La Perla was Puerto Rico's biggest distribution point for heroin and was known for its violence. Federal raids in 2011 did reduce crime by dismantling major drug operations and community leaders involved in violence, but isolated violent incidents continue to occur.
La Perla, located on the outskirts of Old San Juan and considered a shantytown, remains a high-risk area where visitors should be vigilant and informed. The broader San Juan area experiences a relatively high level of crime, with violent crime rates similar to some U.S. cities.
This is not the first incident of tourist violence in La Perla. In April 2024, a 24-year-old tourist was killed and his body was set on fire after a drug purchase and being warned not to take pictures of La Perla. The island of 3.2 million people has reported 277 killings so far this year.
Despite gaining some cultural recognition and tourism interest following exposure by Puerto Rican artists like Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, caution remains necessary in La Perla. The recent fatal shooting highlights ongoing serious security concerns in this part of Puerto Rico.
- The unfortunate shooting of Kevin Mares, a tourist in La Perla, Puerto Rico, raises concerns about the general-news and crime-and-justice situation, as La Perla continues to grapple with a history of significant violence and persistent crime.
- While La Perla has gained some cultural recognition and tourism interest, its lifestyle appears to be marred by ongoing security concerns, as highlighted by the recent travel-related incident involving the tragic shooting of an innocent bystander.
