SAN JUAN – Three people were fatally shot Tuesday outside a tire store in the southeastern town of Gurabo, Puerto Rican police said.

It was the second triple-homicide on the island in less than two weeks.

Authorities identified the victims of Tuesday’s crime as Chayanne Diaz, 29; his cousin Wilfredo Diaz, 23; and Yancarlo Llina, 18.

Chayanne was the son of the store owner, Victor Diaz.

The murder of Chayanne Diaz “had to have been out of envy,” his wife, Rachelis Irlanda, told the media, because “everyone loved him.”

Besides his wife, Chayanne leaves behind an 8-year-old daughter and a son of 2.

Police said they didn’t know whether the killing of a fourth person outside another business in Gurabo was connected to the triple-murder.

Authorities are looking for several masked, heavily armed assailants traveling in a white van.

Puerto Rico, with more than 520 murders so far this year, is on pace to exceed 2011’s record of 1,136 homicides.

U.N. figures from 2008 put the island’s murder rate at 20.3 homicides per 100,000 residents. Puerto Rican authorities blame most of the carnage on strife among rival drug gangs. EFE