Yesterday morning, 24-year-old Puerto Rican rapper Kevin Fret was murdered in the neighborhood of Santurce. The news arrives after the FBI claimed that a "crisis of violence" has been underway in Puerto Rico, citing "absentee police officials" among other factors. Now, Fret has fallen victim to the increasing violence, after being murdered at approximately 5:31 a.m. Apparently, Fret was a prominent member of the LGBT community, calling himself the first openly gay artist in the Latin Trap scene.
According to CBS, Fret was riding his motorcycle in the early morning when he was shot a total of eight times. Though he was later taken to the Río Piedras Medical Center, Fret was soon pronounced dead. His manager, Eduardo Rodriguez, confirmed the news to Billboard in an emotional statement. "Kevin was an artistic soul, a big-hearted dreamer. His passion was music, and still had a lot to do. This violence must stop," says Rodriguez. "There are no words that describe the feeling we have and the pain that causes us to know that a person with so many dreams has to go. We must all unite in these difficult times, and ask for much peace for our beloved Puerto Rico."
CBS also reports that Fret is the 22nd homicide to have occurred in Puerto Rico in 2019 alone. Rest in peace to Kevin Fret.