Chicago, Illinois – A suspect has been charged in connection with the murder of police officer Luis Huesca, as reported by NBC 5 Investigates. Xavier L. Tate Jr., 22, has been charged with first-degree murder in the Circuit Court of Cook County, according to court documents filed on Friday. As of Friday night, Tate had not been taken into custody.
According to court records, Tate is accused of using a 40-caliber handgun to fatally shoot Huesca, who was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds near his Gage Park home early on a Sunday morning. Authorities found the 30-year-old officer, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the face, in response to a ShotSpotter alert around 2:53 a.m. near West 56th Street and South Kedzie Avenue.
After being rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center, Huesca was pronounced dead from his injuries. A six-year veteran of the police force, Huesca was returning home in uniform after completing a shift when the shooting took place. Following the incident, his Toyota SUV was stolen but subsequently recovered.
The investigation into this tragic event is ongoing, with updates expected as developments unfold.