In Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, a streetside bar was targeted in a drive-by shooting that resulted in four fatalities and five serious injuries.
The neighborhood is in disbelief as they wonder whether the occurrence has any connection to drug trafficking. The incident happened late Monday night at the commercial facility of Félix “El Cano” Delgado Montalvo, a former mayor convicted of corruption charges. His sentencing is scheduled for March 13.
One of the casualties was 30-year-old US Navy soldier Kevin Marc Etorma, who was friends with a cousin of the previous mayor.
Daniel Delgado Álvarez, 29, who is in critical condition in the hospital, was also severely hurt in the incident.
As a witness and victim, Delgado Montalvo was interrogated by authorities. He reportedly took cover on the floor after being shot inside the business. He went to the hospital with his wounded brother.
Xavier Matos Rivera, better known by his stage name “Maco,” was allegedly the intended victim of the gunshot. Matos Rivera was a notorious criminal who was believed to have been involved in many killings and had ties to local drug spots. José L. Matos Rivera, his brother, also died from his wounds. Two other ladies and the brother of the former mayor are still in the hospital, along with the other victims.
Investigators are still combing through surveillance video and witness statements to piece together information on the shooters and their tactics. Following Monday night’s horrific events, residents in the little town of Toa Baja have expressed their sorrow for the innocent victims and their need for answers from the authorities.
The island is home to 3.2 million people, and so far this year, there have been at least 74 homicides—six more than the same time last year. Four adults and a 16-year-old kid were killed in a separate drug-related incident in the town of Ceiba in the east last month.
These occurrences highlight the critical need to take immediate measures to tackle the increasing problem of drug-related violence in Puerto Rico. The people of Toa Baja are holding their breath for answers and retribution as the inquiry into the shooting unfolds.
