An Ohio man, 35-year-old Tyler Wilkin, was found shot execution-style in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, on July 10, according to reports. The FBI has confirmed it is assisting the Puerto Rico police in the homicide investigation. Local outlet El Nuevo Dia reported that police have identified a person of interest in the case.
Wilkin, who had moved to the island in 2024, was discovered with a gunshot wound to the back of his head while on a camping trip at Playa La Selva. Jules Santiago, a close friend of Wilkin's who lives in Puerto Rico, told Fox News Digital that she had known him for two years. She recounted the moment she received the news, describing it as a chilling experience.
"When I found out, I went into complete shock. My thoughts were paralyzed. I asked the same question three times just to make sure it was Tyler," Santiago said. "I could never have imagined he would be murdered, that something like that could happen to him. The whole room went cold, the energy turned dark, and I started crying."
Santiago described Wilkin as someone "full of life" and noted that his death did not align with the typical profile of homicide victims she had heard about, which were often tied to drug activity or individuals not on the right path.
A fundraiser has reportedly been established to support the investigation into Wilkin's death, generating tens of thousands of dollars as the case unfolds.