© Eric Rojas/GettyPedro Pierluisi holds a press conference after being sworn in as Governor of Puerto Rico in San Juan, Puerto Rico on, August 2, 2019
Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi said on Wednesday that visitors must comply with laws after a tourist from Delaware was found dead in the shantytown of La Perla.
During a press conference, Pierluisi said: "Those who come from outside must come to comply with the law, because otherwise they are exposing themselves to situations such as the one that occurred, which is very regrettable."
Pierluisi's comments come shortly after Puerto Rican police identified Tariq Quadir Loat, a 24-year-old tourist from Wilmington, Delaware, as the individual found dead in La Perla.
According to the Associated Press, Police Commissioner Antonio López Figueroa said that Loat and a friend, who was identified as James Jackson, purchased unspecified drugs on Saturday. After buying the drugs, Loat and Jackson attempted to take pictures of an area in La Perla but were repeatedly told not to by other individuals in the area.
A dispute reportedly broke out between Loat, Jackson and other other unidentified individuals. According to Primeria Hora, the two men were traveling on a bus and were allegedly surrounded by a group that became angry at them for taking pictures. After getting off the bus, the dispute turned physical and five cars collided during the incident.
As reported by the AP, police said the pair of Delaware tourists were beaten with an exercise weight, a piece of wood, and a deep fryer.
Police reported that Jackson was able to flee from the scene, but was later hospitalized due to his injures.
Loat disappeared, and his body was discovered by police in the town of Vega Baja on Sunday. According to police, Loat's body was burned, but they were able to identify him through fingerprints.
Police have yet to identify the attackers and are continuing to investigate the situation.
"Violence is never justified, but my message to those who come from outside is that this is a society of law and order and here controlled substances are controlled, they are not legal," Pierluisi added during the press conference.
In addition to Pierluisi, Puerto Rico Department of Public Safety Secretary Alexis Torres made similar comments on Wednesday regarding the compliance of Puerto Rico's laws by visitors.
"The message is that: 'Come to Puerto Rico, but there are laws that must be enforced,'" Torres said, according to Primera Hora.
Newsweek reached out to Pierluisi for further comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Primeria Hora reported that the relatives of Loat, including his partner who is in her sixth month of pregnancy, arrived in Puerto Rico following the incident.
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