Arrest made in fatal shooting of Queens man visiting Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (WABC) -- An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a man from Queens who was visiting Puerto Rico for a Bad Bunny concert.
The Department of Justice filed charges on Friday afternoon against Kalel Jorell Martinez Bristol, 37, for the murder of Kevin Mares.
He was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $800,000 bond, the DOJ said.
Kevin was among the expected 500,000 surge of visitors traveling to Puerto Rico amid Bad Bunny's sold-out 30-concert residency, titled "No me quiero ir de aquí."
Kevin was fatally shot last Sunday morning in La Perla, the infamous settlement on the outskirts of Old San Juan's protective sea wall.
According to investigating agent Eric Ortiz Rodriguez, of the Homicide Division of San Juan, Mares, a 25-year-old American tourist who was in Puerto Rico to attend the concert of singer Bad Bunny, was with friends in La Perla.
A heated discussion escalated around 4 a.m. when Martinez Bristol, without a licence to carry a firearm, shot and wounded two people and fatally struck Mares, who had no relation to the altercation, Rodriguez said.
"They were walking, and then across the street, it was like a bunch of 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," said his mother, Sandra Mares.
The night before, he shared video of a beautiful beach view and pool party at his hotel -- but it was when he and some friends wandered off into La Perla that they found themselves in danger.
La Perla once had a sign warning visitors to avoid the area. The small community has struggled to shed its reputation of violence and drug trafficking.
"My son was across the street and he got shot in the abdomen," added his father, Hector Mares.
Detectives say that two local residents were also wounded in the shooting.
Puerto Rico's Secretary of Justice said Friday, "This death will not go unanswered."
The Justice Department promised the man accused of killing Mares will face 'the full weight of the law.'
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Queens of Angels RC Church
A wake for Mares will be held this weekend from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Frederick Funeral Home.
Kevin's parents are originally from Mexico but he was born and raised in Queens, with one younger brother.
He loved animals, like his dog, Jessie, and wanted to be a veterinarian. He was studying at LaGuardia Community College.
"He got a lot of dreams. He was working as a vet technician. And at the same time he was studying," added his father.
He had been dating his girlfriend for several years.
"He was about to propose to her, this fall. Yeah. He wants to do something special. He shared that with us," said his mother.
Kevin's girlfriend is devastated by his death. "She says she cannot handle this," his mother told Eyewitness News.
His girlfriend was in Puerto Rico with him, but stayed at the hotel after the party while he and her brother and a friend ventured out -- something his parents say they'd warned him not to do.
"We told him just stay in the hotel," his father said.
"But they're young. When you're young, sometimes you don't think," his mother added.
"He was a lovely son. He cared. He cared about all of us, his family, friends. He has a lot of friends who are really going to miss him, too."
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