A vacation to Puerto Rico turned deadly for a 25-year-old Queens man who had traveled with his girlfriend to attend a Bad Bunny concert.
Authorities say Kevin Mares was fatally shot Saturday night in La Perla, a waterfront neighborhood adjacent to Old San Juan. The New York native had posted photos of palm trees and swimming pools just hours before the shooting, capturing what was meant to be a celebratory getaway.
Mares’ longtime partner, Angy Nicole Arguello, shared emotional tributes on social media in the days following his death. “I love you, my angel,” she wrote alongside a photo of the couple.
In another post, she pleaded, “My love, I miss you so much. Why, God, did you take him from me?”
According to a GoFundMe organized by family and friends, Mares had been planning to propose to Arguello this fall after six years together. The fundraiser aims to cover the cost of transporting his body back to New York for burial.
Police believe Mares was an innocent bystander when a dispute at a nightlife spot in La Perla escalated into gunfire. Investigators say he was struck twice — in the abdomen and the side — and transported to a local hospital, where he later died. Two other people, both residents of Puerto Rico, were also wounded and remain hospitalized.
Mares had traveled with Arguello and a friend to attend one of the shows in Bad Bunny’s 30-date residency, which has drawn thousands of fans from across the mainland United States.
Loved ones describe Mares as a devoted son and friend whose kindness and energy inspired those around him. “Family was at the center of everything he did,” the GoFundMe statement reads. “His sudden passing has left an unfillable void in our lives.”
Puerto Rican authorities say the investigation remains active and the suspected shooter has not been identified or arrested.
For Mares’ family, the trip was supposed to mark the start of a new chapter. Instead, they are left mourning a life cut short and a proposal that will never happen.
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