Deadly Chicago gun violence claims a Fil-Am victim

Ryan Balbag was shot and killed while driving. GOFUNDME

CHICAGO – The Filipino American community is no longer immune to increased gun violence in Chicago with the fatal shooting Feb. 3 of 30-year-old, Ryan M. Balbag, while he was driving in this City’s South Side.

Balbag was driving with two passengers “when they heard a loud pop,” according to a Nadignewspapers.com report.

One of passengers noticed Balbag had run through a red light, eventually crashing into a building. He was rushed to the Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Balbag died Feb. 5 of a gunshot wound in the eye.
According to a statistics report for the city of Chicago, 2021 had the highest record of gun violence cases with 836; and 85 deaths as of Feb. 21, this year.

A Go Fund Me Page was organized for Balbag’s funeral expense, and the goal had been reached and given to Balbag’s family.

“Ryan was always smiling and just had the most wholesome and positive aura about him,” his friend wrote on the Go Fund Me Page.

Balbag majored in marketing at Northeastern Illinois University, Class of ’18, according to his LinkedIn account.  He worked for Gamer’s World as a sales associate.