The swift arm of justice is fast. Authorities in Puerto Rico have taken a major step in the investigation of a tragic shooting tied to Bad Bunny’s residency shows. A 37-year-old man with a lengthy record, Kalel Jorell Martínez Bristol, has surrendered to police in connection with the killing of 25-year-old New Yorker Kevin Mares.
Prosecutors confirmed that Martínez Bristol now faces first-degree murder charges. The Justice Department stated he turned himself in on Friday and is being held on an $800,000 bond.
Police reports detail that Mares was spending Sunday night with friends in La Perla, the seaside neighborhood just beyond Old San Juan, when violence erupted. According to investigators, Martínez Bristol allegedly drew a weapon during an argument and fired. Mares, who was not part of the dispute, was fatally struck. Two local residents, a brother and sister, were also wounded in the gunfire but survived.
Martínez Bristol’s defense attorney, Pedro Rivera, challenged the prosecution’s approach, arguing that the absence of attempted murder charges for the surviving victims “raised questions about the strength of the case.”
The incident has once again placed La Perla under the spotlight. The neighborhood, once known as Puerto Rico’s largest heroin distribution hub, has long carried a reputation for crime that complicates its potential as a tourist draw. Still, it has seen a wave of international recognition in recent years after appearing in Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s global hit “Despacito.” Today, visitors often head to the area to take in sweeping ocean views and the vibrant murals that decorate its streets.
For many, the killing underscores both the risks and challenges facing communities like La Perla as they attempt to balance cultural significance, local life, and the influx of global tourism.