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A government attorney from the Philippines who was vacationing in Philadelphia with his mother was shot and killed while the two were inside an Uber in University City over the weekend.
John Albert Laylo, 35, and his mother were inside an Uber on their way to Philadelphia International Airport early Saturday morning. As the Uber traveled along the 200 block of South 38th Street at 4:10 a.m., a black vehicle, possibly a Cadillac, pulled up behind them. The vehicle then pulled up along the driver's side and a gunman inside fired multiple shots, striking the Uber. The vehicle then fled the scene.
Laylo was shot once in the back of the head. Responding Penn Police officers took him to the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. He was later pronounced dead at 10:33 a.m. on Sunday.
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No arrests have been made and police have not released information on any suspects. They also have not yet revealed whether Laylo was targeted or an innocent bystander. Law enforcement sources told NBC10 they are looking into several possible motives for the shooting, including road rage and mistaken identity. They continue to investigate and are searching for surveillance video.
Laylo’s mother, Leah Bustamante Laylo, told NBC10 her son was a government attorney in the Philippines and the two were vacationing in Philadelphia at the time of his death. She also said she was struck by shrapnel during the shooting but was doing okay.
"I can’t explain the pain the heaviness I have in my heart," she wrote. "It took me hours to post this because still I can’t believe this happened!"
Uber said they have been in communication with the driver, and that the ride-sharing company has a team of former law enforcement professionals, including former FBI, Secret Service, etc., who are on call to work alongside police.
"The violent attack that took Mr. Laylo’s life is heartbreaking and our thoughts are with his family during their time of grief," an Uber spokesperson said Monday. "We hope the police are able to quickly arrest those responsible.”
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Elmer Cato, the Consul General of the Philippines New York, told NBC10 a high ranking official in the Philippines informed him of Laylo's death.
"We are trying to reach authorities and hoping to sit down with the mayor and police commissioner so we can discuss this case," Cato said.
A city spokesperson told NBC10 the Consul has "been in close communication with staff from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations and the City is doing everything possible to provide support through this traumatic experience."
A gun violence tracker from the city controller’s office tallied 843 nonfatal and 209 fatal shooting victims as of Sunday, June 19. Shootings have accounted for the most killings in Philadelphia this year.
As of Sunday night, there were 230 homicides in the city in 2022, down only 11% from the same time last year which was ultimately the deadliest year in Philadelphia on record.
In response to the surging gun violence, officials announced a joint initiative between Pennsylvania State Police and Philadelphia Police in which both departments would increase their presence in areas of the city hit hardest by crime.
