Philippine officials on Monday mourned the death of a government attorney in Philadelphia and called for his killer to be brought to justice.
John Albert Laylo and his mother were on their way to the airport to catch a flight when someone in a black car shot at them. Laylo was shot in the back of the head and died at the hospital.
The mother of Laylo was slightly injured by glass during the shooting, according to the Philippine Consul General.
It was not known if the driver was hurt. There has been no arrest. Authorities didn't say if Laylo, his mother or the driver were targets. Homicide detectives are looking for evidence.
According to Philadelphia's KYW-TV, the victim was an attorney for the Philippine government.
The Philippine government will help in returning Laylo's remains to his family. The importance of our request for the police to bring the culprit to justice has been underscored.
Laylo left his job as a legislative staffer in Manila for graduate studies after two years. "He was so young and still full of dreams, and I hope that the suspect will be held to account for the brutal and heinous act," said de Leyte.
On Sunday, Laylo's mother posted to Facebook that she had been on vacation with her son.
I never imagined that the end of our vacation would be this way. A mother and her son are on a tour of New York, Washington and Philadelphia. We are supposed to go home after we traveled. He will be brought home in a box.
The mother and son were on their way to Philadelphia International Airport to catch a flight to Chicago and then on to California for their flight to Manila.
Five minutes after Laylo and his mother left his cousin's apartment, they were shot.
Philadelphia is experiencing a rise in gun violence. Three people were killed and several others were injured in a shooting in the South Street entertainment district on June 4.
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