Suspect Arrested In Connection With Murder of Off-Duty Chicago Police Officer

Chicago police have announced the arrest of Xavier Tate Jr., the 22-year-old suspect wanted in connection with the murder of off-duty officer Luis Huesca. Tate was apprehended in Glendale Heights, Illinois, by officers and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Huesca was tragically shot and killed on April 21 in the Gage Park area as he made his way home from work. The 30-year-old officer, described as beloved by his community, was shot nearly 20 times with a modified automatic weapon.

Huesca fell victim to a tragic shooting in the early hours of April 21 while heading home from work in the Gage Park area, still clad in his police uniform but also wearing civilian clothing atop, according to Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.

Reports from FOX 32 Chicago indicate that Huesca endured nearly 20 gunshot wounds inflicted by a firearm modified into an automatic weapon.

During the incident, Huesca’s vehicle was stolen but later recovered nearby. However, his service weapon and badge were notably absent from the scene, as per sources cited by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The arrest of Tate provides a measure of relief to a city mourning the loss of one of its own. Huesca, who served with the Chicago Police Department for six years, was laid to rest on Monday, just days before his 31st birthday.

Despite the sorrow, the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, including the release of video footage and a $100,000 combined reward, culminated in Tate’s capture.