Unfolding the Tragedy: Latest Developments in CPD Officer Huesca’s Fatal Encounter

Shortly after dozens of law enforcement officers and community leaders paid their final respects to deceased Chicago police officer Luis Huesca, authorities reported progress in the investigation as the search for the culprit continues.

“Our Detective Division, our officers are working, and they have not stopped since this happened,” Police Supt. Larry Snelling told reporters Monday afternoon. “And there have been some significant, massive breaks. Other leads, I can tell you that the officer’s firearm was found, which I know was reported. And that was accomplished via some excellent work by our detectives and other members of the Chicago Police Department; we will continue to work diligently until we apprehend this guy.”

On Monday, Chicago police filed a report and a proffer in Cook County Criminal Court. According to the records, officers spoke with a 20-year-old guy named Caschaus Tate, who is identified as “an associate” — not a relative — of Xavier Tate, the man charged with Officer Huesca’s murder.

As of Monday night, Xavier Tate was not in police custody.

According to the report, Caschaus Tate was observed “discard[ing] a firearm over the fence into the [neighboring] yard” and “the firearm was discovered to be a Glock semi-automatic pistol.” Investigators confirmed with law enforcement that the Glock was Officer Huesca’s duty handgun. During the update, Snelling also stated that authorities vowed to “get justice” for his family. Officer Luis Huesca’s 9 mm Glock service handgun was found Friday at a property in Chicago’s Morgan Park area, according to authorities.

The court filings also revealed that Officer Huesca’s gun was “uncased [and] unloaded” when discovered. Huesca, a sixth-year officer, was going home from work on April 21 when he was shot and killed near his Gage Park home.

According to the police report, Huesca received a gunshot wound to the face. His Toyota SUV was reported stolen but was later found. According to the police report, officers were investigating the event as a potential carjacking. A judge signed an arrest warrant and criminal charge of first-degree murder against 22-year-old Xavier Tate Jr., who, according to court documents, shot Huesca with a 40-caliber revolver.

Court records show: that Tate was due in court last week on an unrelated trespassing allegation, but he did not appear. A person who answered a line associated with him stated that they had not spoken with Tate and hung up on a reporter.

Over the weekend, multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, CrimeStoppers, and the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, offered a total $100,000 prize for an arrest and conviction.

According to court records, officers responded Friday afternoon to a house near 108th and Hale in connection with Huesca’s murder. Court papers show that authorities watched a male in that house throw a gun over the fence.

That person has been detained and is facing a weapons charge.

Officers Commemorate Luis Huesca During the Chicago Funeral

The new information comes an hour after law enforcement officers filled the seats at St. Rita Cascia Shrine Chapel in the city’s Beverly View district to honor Huesca.

At the dead officer’s burial, family, friends, and colleagues delivered heartfelt anecdotes one after the other, each revealing a beautiful homage to the man they knew — both with and without his badge.

“When I first received the awful news, I struggled to find enough words to describe [Luis] to others who had not had the opportunity to meet him. But I kept hearing the expression ‘Give the shirt off his back.’ Because that is exactly who Luis was. He was the type of man who would go out of his way to help others regardless of the circumstances,” stated his buddy Karim Ismat.

cop Lucia Chavez, a close friend and classmate of both Huesca and another dead cop, Andrés Vásquez-Lasso, who was killed just 13 months ago while responding to a domestic disturbance call, was among the many speakers who paid respect.

“I lost Andrés, and now Luis,” Chavez explained. “I lost two classmates, my closest friends, and my brothers. The violence in this city snatched them away from me and us.” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker were noticeably absent from the crowd.

Johnson issued a statement Monday morning, updating his public agenda to remove the burial from his itinerary.

“We continue to send our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Officer Luis Huesca as they heal from the loss of their beloved son, nephew, brother, and friend,” Johnson stated in a news release. “As mayor, I pledge to continue supporting our police and first responders, uniting our city, and working with everyone to build a better, stronger, safer Chicago. My heart is with the Huesca family today. “God bless them and the city of Chicago.”

Multiple sources told NBC Chicago that Huesca’s family had requested Johnson not to come.

Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza stated that Huesca’s “grief-stricken mother” urged her and another state official to inform Johnson that “he was unwelcome at her son’s funeral.” Some at the funeral emphasized that the lack of justice in Huesca’s death had stopped them from finding closure, but they remained optimistic that an arrest would be made.

In the end, Huesca’s character grabbed center stage.

“Luis, your nickname should be Lionheart.” “You’re an exceptional person with courage, bravery, community, humility, and pride in your work,” Huesca Jr. said, reading from a letter he sent to his late brother. “And you have dedication for those you touch, rest in peace, my brother, and I love you.”

Source: nbcchicago.com