A young American tourist died this Sunday in Puerto Rico while visiting the island to attend one of the concerts on Bad Bunny’s tour. The incident occurred in La Perla, a well-known coastal area of San Juan, in the early morning hours inside a nightclub called “Refugio de Hombres Maltratados”.
The victim was identified as Kevin Mares, 25, a resident of New York. According to police, Mares was struck in the abdomen by a bullet during an altercation between several attendees; although he was not part of the dispute, he was caught in the crossfire. He was transported to Puerto Rico’s largest public hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Additionally, two other local residents of La Perla were injured and remain hospitalized.
La Perla, made famous worldwide by the music video “Despacito,” has seen improved security since a major federal raid in 2011, yet isolated incidents of violence still occur.
Could tragedies like this be prevented with stronger security measures in nightlife hotspots such as La Perla?
There is no simple answer, but a combination of increased police presence, controlled access points, and community prevention programs could help reduce incidents like this.
