Omar Padilla Vélez, a 33-year-old chemist from South Philadelphia, was fatally shot in a shocking ambush while vacationing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with his fiancée Kelly Crispin. The January 3, 2026, attack near Calle Cerra has left Crispin wounded and demanding accountability amid a stalled investigation.
Incident Overview
After a night out dancing, the couple—accompanied by a friend—made a wrong turn onto a dark side street near Calle Blanca and Calle La Nueva Palma around 1:45 a.m. About a dozen masked men with AR-15-style rifles surrounded their car; as Vélez tried to drive away, they opened fire, shattering glass and striking all three occupants. Vélez suffered a head wound leading to a stroke, dying three weeks later on January 22.
Attack Details and Aftermath
Crispin, hit in the shoulder, hand, and grazed on the head, described chaos as one attacker took her phone mid-911 call but returned it after searching her purse—possibly mistaking her for a target. Attackers reportedly yelled to stop shooting upon noticing a woman inside and even directed them out of the area. The friend drove to a gas station for an ambulance; Vélez briefly regained consciousness to express love before succumbing.
Investigation Concerns
No arrests have occurred nearly a month later, with San Juan police criticized for a five-day delay in securing the scene and interviewing Crispin only on January 21. Authorities suspect a random gang-related hit on that turf, not targeting tourists, but Crispin fears investigative lapses hinder justice for her fiancé, a Puerto Rican native and accomplished DuPont scientist.
