Arrest warrant issued for suspect in murder of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca
CHICAGO (CBS) -- An arrest warrant has been signed for a suspect in the shooting that killed Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca this past Sunday.
Late Friday night, Chicago Police put out a community alert announcing that Xavier Tate Jr., 22, is wanted in the warrant. A judge signed off on charges of first-degree murder in the warrant on Friday.
Tate was not in custody Friday night and remained at large.
Police confirmed surveillance video released earlier in the week shows Tate. He is seen in a convenience store just before 10 p.m. the night of the shooting. He buys something and walks out.
Later, the video shows the man in a different outfit at a convenience store. He buys a water bottle.
The warrant accused Tate of knowingly and intentionally firing a .40-caliber handgun and killing Huesca.
Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert in the 5500 block of South Kedzie Avenue just before 3 a.m. Sunday. After touring the area, officers drove to the 3100 block of West 56th Street about a block away, where Officer Huesca, 30, was found outside with gunshot wounds.
Police Supt. Larry Snelling said Sunday that Huesca was returning home from his shift – off duty, but in uniform – when he was shot multiple times. Huesca was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died.
Police have not yet confirmed that the six-year veteran officer was killed in a carjacking. His car was later recovered.
Meanwhile, Officer Huesca's gun, which was missing from the scene, may have been recovered at 108th Street and Hale Avenue in the Beverly neighborhood.
Police sources said a person at that location was seen throwing the gun out of a window.
An active police investigation was going on at the Beverly scene late Friday night.
Chicago police say that Tate Should be considered armed and dangerous. If seen, do not approach but call 911 immediately.
The visitation for Huesca will be held at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, at 4727 W, 103rd St. in Oak Lawn, on Sunday, which will be open to the public from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. A church service will be held on Monday at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, at 7740 S. Western Ave. in Chicago, for a 10 a.m. mass.
Officer Huesca will receive full honors, as his death has been labeled a line-of-duty death.
