Chicago Police Dept. says goodbye to slain Ofc. Luis Huesca as hunt for his killer continues
CHICAGO (CBS) – The Chicago Police Department held a ceremonial goodbye Tuesday for fallen officer Luis Huesca, who was shot and killed over the weekend while off duty and returning home from his shift.
Huesca would have turned 31 on Tuesday.
An ambulance carried his body from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office to Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn.
Sandra Wortham is the president of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation – a club to which no officer's family wants to belong, but also an organization that is essential for families when the ultimate sacrifice is made. In this case, Officer Huesca's mother was among those left behind.
"We will be a resource for whatever she may need, emotionally for support, as the years go on," Wortham said. "We also want to acknowledge that our officers are being lost to the same violence they fight."
Huesca's family received a $60,000 donation from the Chicago Police Memorial Fund on Wednesday.
"I look forward to giving his mom a hug, you know, because God, you raise your children. You do everything you can for them, and then they choose to serve our city," said Wortham, "and then the evil in our city does this to them."
Meanwhile, much of the investigation into the fatal shooting has centered around an alley where Huesca's car was left, just a few blocks away from his home.
Chicago police handed out flyers asking for tips from anyone who might be able to help solve his murder, and gave neighbors in Gage Park mental health advice.
While police escorted Huesca from the medical examiner's office to the funeral home, the search for his killer continued.
Exclusive video obtained by CBS 2 shows an officer examining pieces of clothing near where Huesca's car was found. Police have not confirmed if the clothing was connected to the person shown in the surveillance video released on Monday of a person of interest in the case. Video shows the person of interest in a store in two different outfits in what appeared to be before and after the shooting. He was buying a water bottle in the second clip.
In a letter sent to Chicago police officers on Tuesday, Supt. Larry Snelling described Huesca as a kind spirit and a dedicated officer who served with integrity and represented the best of Chicago's finest.
Early Sunday morning, Huesca was heading home from a shift and was still in uniform when he pulled up to his home and was shot multiple times, according to police.
The shooter drove off in Huesca's car, though police have not confirmed the shooting was the result of a carjacking. Sources told CBS 2 that the shooter took Huesca's weapon and his badge.
It was unclear whether either has been recovered.
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.
"To let us share in her grief, and honoring him is also really a gift to, I think, not only the police community, but also to the Chicago community," Wortham said.
As the family grieves, community members are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Those with information are asked to contact the CPD tip line.
