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A 25-year-old U.S. tourist from New York was fatally shot in Puerto Rico early Sunday, according to the Associated Press (AP). The victim, identified as Kevin Mares, was struck in the abdomen while at a nightclub and died later in the hospital.
Mares had traveled to San Juan to attend Bad Bunny’s concert, part of the singer’s residency that runs through September 11. The AP reported that Mares was among four people at a club known locally as “Shelter for Mistreated Men” in La Perla, a neighborhood in San Juan. The shooting occurred after an argument and injured two other individuals—a 45-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man who are siblings.
According to Sergeant Arnaldo Ruiz of the Homicide Division of the Criminal Investigation Corps of San Juan, Mares was found with gunshot wounds and taken to Río Piedras Medical Center. Puerto Rico recorded 277 killings so far this year, down from 325 in the same period last year.
La Perla has a history of drug trafficking and violence, though federal law enforcement actions have led to some declines. The neighborhood gained more visibility after appearing in the music video for “Despacito” in 2017, which helped perceptions that parts of Old San Juan had become more tourist-friendly.
Sgt. Arnaldo Ruiz stated, “We are still very preliminary to establish a motive for the facts. We cannot rule out anything while the interviews are completed.”
The police continue to investigate and interview witnesses, with authorities not yet releasing a suspect description. Local prosecutors will make charging decisions once investigators identify a suspect and establish a motive.
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Where was Kevin Mares fatally shot according to the news report?
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