Scientist Fatally Shot After Wrong Turn in Puerto Rico, Fiancée Says — Harrowing Ambush Leaves Questions

Omar Padilla Vélez, a Philadelphia scientist visiting family in San Juan, Puerto Rico, was shot during an early-morning drive on Jan. 3 and died three weeks later on Jan. 22, his fiancée, Kelly Crispin, told local reporters. The attack, she says, followed what the couple believed was a wrong turn into a neighborhood where a group of men surrounded their car.

What Happened

According to Crispin and local media accounts, the couple left a friend’s home after dinner with another friend riding in the backseat. Shortly after midnight they turned onto a side street they thought would lead back to the highway. About a dozen men armed with AR-15–style rifles reportedly surrounded the vehicle. When Padilla Vélez attempted to drive away, the group opened fire.

Amid shattering glass and chaos, Crispin — who said she felt pain in her shoulder — heard Padilla Vélez tell her he had been shot. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and died on Jan. 22, local outlets reported.

Omar Padilla.Omar Padilla/Instagram

Survivor's Account And Strange Details

Crispin described several unsettling details: the attackers allegedly searched her purse but took nothing, returned her phone, and at one point shouted for others to stop shooting because there was a woman in the car — which gave her the impression the group may have realized they had made an error. She also said that, after the shooting, one of the attackers pointed the surviving passengers toward a route out of the neighborhood while she stayed with Padilla Vélez at the scene.

Investigation And Official Response

Nearly a month after the shooting, no arrests or persons of interest had been publicly named. Crispin alleges that San Juan police did not visit the scene until five days after the incident and did not interview her until Jan. 21. San Juan police did not respond to requests for comment on the timeline or other investigative details, according to reports.

About The Victim

Padilla Vélez was described by friends and family as an accomplished scientist with publications in respected journals and academic platforms. On Facebook, Crispin posted a moving tribute: "So much was stolen from us in just a moment. Our promise of marriage, children, and growing old together," she wrote. "But what can never be stolen from us is the beautiful life we built together, full of laughter and love."

Ongoing Coverage

Authorities and news organizations continue to investigate and report on the case as they work to identify suspects and determine a motive. With key questions still unanswered, the community and Padilla Vélez’s family are awaiting more information and justice for the fatal attack.