A woman from Philadelphia is searching for answers after her fiancé was tragically shot and killed during a random attack while they were in Puerto Rico. Kelly Crispin recounted that she was driving back to her parents’ home around 1:45 a.m. on January 3 after enjoying a night out in San Juan with her fiancé, Omar Padilla Velez. They took a wrong turn in the nightlife district and soon found their car surrounded.
Crispin described an alarming scene where more than a dozen masked individuals, armed with rifles, blocked their way at the intersection of Calle Blanca and Calle La Nueva Palma. As Padilla Velez attempted to navigate away from the danger, the gunmen opened fire, according to police reports.
Padilla Velez was struck in the head while Crispin suffered injuries to her hand and shoulder, along with a graze on the back of her head. Thankfully, a friend who was with them was unharmed. After the gunfire subsided, Crispin recounted that they began calling the police when one of the attackers came up to their car, taking Padilla Velez’s phone. The men appeared surprised to find a woman in the car, rifled through her wallet, and returned her phone without taking anything else.
In a frantic attempt to save her fiancé, Crispin and her friend moved Padilla Velez to the backseat to stop the bleeding while they fled the scene, as the assailants ordered them to leave. They met an ambulance at a nearby gas station and rushed him to the hospital, but a few days later, he suffered a fatal stroke from the bullet fragments lodged in his body.
Now, Crispin is advocating for justice. She expressed her concerns about the lack of media attention and pressure on law enforcement to resolve the case, stating, “There’s no media coverage, there’s no pressure on the police to solve this case.” She emphasized the tragedy that a promising young Puerto Rican was murdered without adequate recognition.
Crispin noted that Padilla Velez, having grown up in Puerto Rico, was familiar with the area where the shooting occurred and insisted that it’s not usually considered dangerous. As of now, no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing, according to reports.
With heartfelt emotion, Crispin reflected on their plans for the future, stating, “We had just made the decision to spend the rest of our lives together forever.” It’s a heartbreaking and bizarre situation that she finds too cruel to digest.
San Juan police have not responded to requests for comments regarding this incident.
