Bad Bunny Fan Killed in Puerto Rico After Traveling to Island For Show

Kevin Mares -- a Bad Bunny fan who traveled down to Puerto Rico to see the artist -- has been shot and killed.

We spoke with Kevin's mother, Sandra, through a friend acting as a translator ... and, she confirmed to us her son was shot early this morning following his attendance at a pool party in La Perla, PR.

Sandra tells us her son was a massive Bad Bunny fan ... and, he planned this trip with his girlfriend and their friends about a year ago -- with the group eager to watch the show on Sunday. They are no longer attending the show in light of the shooting.

Kevin last communicated with his mother when he sent a video from the pool party just hours before his death. He also posted footage to his Instagram Story from the event as well as the view from his hotel room ... and, it looks like he was enjoying himself on the island.

According to reports ... Mares is thought to be an innocent bystander who was shot when two people got into an argument and one pulled a gun at a late-night venue called “Shelter for Mistreated Men”. The NBC affiliate in Miami reports he was shot in his abdomen and side. The shooter is still at large and police are investigating the incident.

Mares' family says he was a loving and dedicated family man He enjoyed gardening and cooking, and he was studying to become a veterinarian at LaGuardia Community College in New York City.

Sandra says she hopes Bad Bunny will pay tribute to him during the concert tonight ... and, they've set up a GoFundMe to get Kevin's body back home to New York.

Kevin was 25.