The boy died during the July 4 celebrations at the Hotel Caribe Hilton in the capital San Juan. Police believe the boy’s father, a known criminal, may have been the target.
San Juan is a busy cruise port and Puerto Rico is becoming a popular destination with UK travellers following the establishment of a direct flight from Gatwick by Norwegian Air Shuttle.
The Guardian reports that 333 people have been killed on the island so far this year, an increase of 54 compared with the same period last year. The July 4 weekend alone saw 11 killings on the island, which is a commonwealth of the US and has a population of around 3.7 million. Officials stress that most murders are drug-related and that tourists are very unlikely to be targeted.
