One of the Philippines’ senior government attorneys was shot and killed in Philadelphia

After a government attorney was shot and killed in Philadelphia on Monday, Philippine officials paid their respects to the victim while also calling for the shooter to be brought to justice

At a red light near the University of Pennsylvania, a driver in a black car opened fire on John Albert Laylo and his mother as they rode in an Uber to the airport early Saturday morning, police said. After being shot in the back of the head, Laylo was transported by ambulance to an area hospital, where he later died.

Laylo’s mother was taken to the hospital after the shooting, where Philippine Consul General Elmer Cato informed her that she had been hit in the hand by a piece of glass.

The condition of the Uber driver was not immediately known. A search warrant has not been issued. Laylo, his mother, and the Uber driver were not singled out for special attention by authorities, who declined to discuss a possible motive. Detectives are looking for any video evidence that might help them solve the case of a recent homicide.

According to KYW-TV, the consulate general of the Philippines stated that the victim was a government attorney.

He said he assured Laylo’s mother that the government of the Philippines would assist in bringing her son’s remains back to the Philippines. According to a statement from Cato, “We are also in touch with police authorities and have reiterated our request that they bring the perpetrator of this incident to justice.”

After working for opposition senator Leila de Lima’s legislative staff from 2016 to 2018, Laylo, 35, decided to return to school for her master’s degree. It is hoped that the suspect will be brought to justice “for the brutal and senseless act,” de Lima said in Manila on Monday.

On Sunday, Laylo’s mother wrote on Facebook that she and her son, whom she called Jal, had been on vacation.

Never in my wildest dreams or imaginations did I think this would be the end of our vacation! Her son, Leah Bustamante Laylo, and she toured New York, Washington, and Philadelphia in a post accompanied by photos of the family. My friends and I are supposed to return to our homes at the same time, so why aren’t we?!” “I’ll bring him home in a box soon,” I promised.

In order to get to Chicago, the mother and son were scheduled to fly to California, where they would then fly to Manila, according to Cato, a New York-based airline analyst.

Laylo and his mother had just left his cousin’s apartment in Philadelphia when the shooting occurred, according to Laylo’s cousin Cato.

Gun violence is on the rise in major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia. Several people were injured and three people were killed in a shooting in the South Street entertainment district on June 4 — about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away from the incident that claimed Laylo’s life.