The Philippines' Consul General in New York, Elmer Cato, on Tuesday, June 21, said the shooting of the Filipino lawyer in Philadelphia who later died may be a case of mistaken identity.
“The fatal shooting of Filipino lawyer John Albert Laylo could be a case of mistaken identity, according to police source who say gunman appeared to have fired at the wrong vehicle that was similar to what he was chasing,” Cato wrote on Twitter.
Atty. John Albert Laylo, 35, of Makati City, was on his way to the airport with his mother to catch their flight to Chicago when the vehicle they were riding in was suddenly fired at.
One out of the six bullets hit Laylo in the head.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney Kenney condemned the tragedy, saying it was "heinous" and "senseless."
"I’m appalled to learn of this heinous and senseless crime that has completely devastated an entire family. Mr. Laylo's loved ones are in my prayers," he said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.
"This is another horrific example of the tragic impact of the prevalence of guns in our city: whether it's a visitor or a native Philadelphian affected, there are too many guns on our streets, with devastating consequences," he added.