Man charged with murder of Officer Luis Huesca pleads not guilty during arraignment hearing
CHICAGO — The man accused of killing Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca has entered a not guilty plea.
Xavier L. Tate, 22, was arrested May 1 and charged the next day with the murder of the 30-year-old Huesca. The officer was shot multiple times and killed in the 3100 block of West 56th Street in Chicago’s Gage Park neighborhood while returning home from a work shift in the early-morning hours.
READ MORE: ‘He was so kind’: Sister remembers fallen CPD Officer Luis Huesca
Tate, charged by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office with first-degree murder, vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen firearm, faced a judge Tuesday for his arraignment, pleading not guilty to the charges.
Members of the Chicago Police Department and the Fraternal Order of Police, among others, filled the courtroom Tuesday to support Huesca’s family.
Days after Huesca’s murder, police released surveillance video of a man they believed was Tate, capturing him in two different convenience stores, as well as walking down the street near where Huesca was shot and killed.
Tate, of Aurora, was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force at an apartment complex in Glendale Heights, according to CPD, and subsequently charged.
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What prosecutors allege
In Tate’s initial hearing on May 2, prosecutors alleged he watched Huesca as Huesca drove past him and turned into his driveway, then approached the driver’s side of Huesca’s Toyota and fired 10 shots. Huesca was hit in the head, arms, chest and thighs.
A neighbor in the area reportedly heard the gunfire and saw the suspect standing at Huesca’s feet, then watched the suspect get into Huesca’s SUV and drive away. The SUV was recovered in the area, along with other evidence, investigators say.
Tate also allegedly stole Huesca’s service weapon, which was later recovered at a friend of the suspect’s home. That man, 20-year-old Caschaus Tate, also faces criminal charges after prosecutors allege he tried to toss Huesca’s service weapon after the officer had been murdered. It’s unclear what the relationship is between the two Tates, however, prosecutors referred to the two men as friends in court.
During Xavier Tate’s initial hearing, prosecutors detailed a trail of evidence, including DNA, phone and GPS data, an EBT card Tate used belonging to his relative, and more than 90 surveillance videos as the key pieces used to connect him to the crime.
Investigators were able to track Xavier Tate’s movements in the days and hours before, during and after the crime and arrested him a week later.
DEEP DIVE: More details on Tate’s alleged whereabouts, timeline of fatal shooting
At the time of Huesca’s murder, Xavier Tate was on pretrial release for two misdemeanor cases in Kane County and one misdemeanor case in Cook County.
During Tuesday’s arraignment, several motions were filed in court, including a protective order prohibiting any parties associated with the case from talking to the media. An order was also entered prohibiting the City of Chicago from releasing any documents related to the case publicly. The full protective order can be read at the bottom of this article.
Xavier Tate is currently being held in LaSalle County and will be back in court Aug. 1 for a discovery hearing.
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