A violent incident unfolded in Plaza del Mercado de Santurce, one of San Juan’s busiest hubs for dining and nightlife, leaving one person dead and four others wounded. Local authorities reported the shooting occurred on a Tuesday night as a vehicle cruised through a street near the plaza, and gunfire erupted targeting a man who was killed at the scene. Four others sustained injuries, with two victims hit directly by bullets and two others struck by fragments from the same gunfire.
Two of the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, while the remaining two received on-site care for minor injuries and did not require transport. The incident prompted an immediate response from law enforcement and medical teams who secured the area and began coordinating with investigators.
Officers from the San Juan Criminal Investigation Corps Homicide Division, alongside the on-duty prosecutor, assumed responsibility for the case. Plaza del Mercado de Santurce, often referred to as La Placita de Santurce, draws large crowds on weekends and is known for its diverse restaurant scene and vibrant nightlife, factors that add complexity to the ongoing investigation. Local authorities urged any witnesses to come forward with information to aid the inquiry and stressed the importance of public safety in one of the city’s most visited districts as investigators reviewed surveillance footage and collected physical evidence from the scene. The incident has prompted discussions among residents and visitors about security measures in popular entertainment areas, and officials indicated that further updates would be released as the investigation progressed. Authorities also emphasized cooperation with the community to ensure that such violence is addressed promptly and effectively and that normal activity in La Placita can resume with confidence.