Arrest warrant, more details issued for suspect in murder of CPD Officer Luis Huesca

Ben Bradley
·3 min read
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CHICAGO — As final preparations are being made for the visitation and funeral of Chicago Police Department Officer Luis Huesca, a $100,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of 22-year-old Xavier L. Tate, wanted for Huesca’s murder.

Huesca was shot multiple times early last Sunday morning, April 21, in the 3100 block of West 56th Street in the city’s Gage Park neighborhood while returning home from work. Huesca, just two days shy of his 31st birthday, died while still in uniform.

Chicago police officer dies after being shot overnight in Gage Park neighborhood, CPD confirms

Huesca’s death has been classified as in the line of duty, which allows his family to receive survivors’ death benefits. Huesca had been with CPD for six years.

Visitation for Huesca, open to the public, is Sunday from 1 to 8 p.m. at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 West 103rd Street, in Oak Lawn.

Funeral services for Huesca begin at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, 7740 South Western Avenue, in Chicago. Interment will then follow at Rosehill Cemetery, 5800 North Ravenswood Avenue, on Chicago’s North Side.

‘He was so kind’: Sister remembers fallen CPD Officer Luis Huesca

WGN-TV will carry those services live, starting at 10 a.m. Monday.

Suspect, reward

Rewards totaling $100,000 are now being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Tate, identified by CPD as a suspect in Huesca’s murder, sources told WGN Investigates on Friday evening. A source said Friday an arrest warrant had been issued, but the suspect was not yet in custody.

WGN Investigates obtained a copy of the arrest warrant issued for the suspect in Huesca’s murder, which CPD later confirmed, identifying the suspect as Tate.

On Friday night, a Cook County judge issued an arrest warrant for Tate, who faces a first-degree murder charge.

The FBI has released additional information about Tate, including other names he goes by and a description of tattoos on his body. According to law enforcement, Tate has ties to or may visit Chicago, Aurora, Olympia Fields, Decatur and Champaign.

He has the word “majesty” and a crown tattooed on the right side of his neck, along with other tattoos on his chest, the FBI says. He also goes by the nickname “Zay,” or by his middle name, Lamont.

As is customary in the death of a police officer, the complainant listed in the warrant is a detective on the case, but the words “for (police officer) Luis Huesca” are added to indicate the arrest was conducted in the name of the fallen officer.

Police posted a video of Tate to YouTube as reference to who they are looking for.

Crime Stoppers and the ATF are offering a combined $25,000 reward for information leading to Tate’s arrest. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, FBI and the Fraternal Order of Police are also offering a combined $75,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Those with information on Tate’s whereabouts can reach out to Area One Detectives at 312-747-8380, or anonymous tips can be filed online at cpdtip.com.

Huesca was the first CPD officer killed and the third shot so far this year.

In January, an officer was wounded during a shootout with a burglary suspect in the Gold Coast neighborhood. Last month, on officer was shot by Dexter Reed during a traffic stop in Humboldt Park. Reed was killed in that exchange.

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