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Philly offers $20,000 reward for info about killer of Pinoy lawyer John Albert Laylo

By NICK GARCIA Published Jun 23, 2022 12:44 pm

Philadelphia authorities are offering a $20,000 (P1.09 million) reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the gunman who killed Filipino lawyer John Albert Laylo, the Philippine Consul General in New York said.

Elmer Cato said the reward was floated last June 20 (June 21 Manila time) when he met with Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and police officials investigating the shooting.

"We thank @PhillyMayor Jim Kenney and @PhillyPolice for their assurance that they will do everything they can to bring to justice whoever is responsible for the death of our kababayan John Albert Laylo," Cato tweeted June 22.

Last June 18 (June 19 Manila time), Laylo and his mother Leah were riding an Uber, on their way to their Chicago flight during their United States vacation, when unnamed assailants shot at their vehicle.

The 35-year-old lawyer was shot in the head and put into a coma. He died shortly after in the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Leah, meanwhile, sustained shrapnel wounds.

Philadelphia police said the incident could be case of mistaken identity, according to local media CBS Philadelphia.

"The case is a targeted shooting, but of mistaken identity," anchor Joe Holden tweeted June 21, noting the police told him that the gunman who shot at the Nissan carrying Laylo mistook his car for another one they're closely following.

Cato also mentioned the possibility of a mistaken identity in another tweet.

Philadelphia has been seeing a surge in gun violence. Last June 4, a mass shooting took place in South Street—which is just about five kilometers from where Laylo was shot—killing three people and injuring 11 others.

During the same day Laylo's vehicle was shot, eight separate shootings happened in the city which killed two and injured five.

Laylo's sister Althea set up a donation drive for him. Visit this link if you wish to help.