Murder charges approved in fatal shooting of CPD Officer Luis Huesca

Sam Charles, Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune
Updated ·2 min read
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A first-degree murder charge was approved by Cook County prosecutors Thursday in the fatal April shooting of off-duty Chicago police Officer Luis Huesca.

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office said in a statement Thursday that 22-year-old Xavier Tate Jr. was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Huesca on April 21 near the officer’s home in the Gage Park neighborhood. He also faces one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking and one count of possession of a stolen firearm, according to police. Tate is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday.

“While we take this critical step, we will continue to gather and analyze further evidence,” Foxx said in the statement. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Officer Huesca and recognize the courage of all our officers. We remain steadfast in our pursuit to ensure that justice is served for Officer Huesca and the city he served.”

Tate was taken into custody Wednesday in west suburban Glendale Heights, police said. A Chicago Police Department source said the arresting officers used Huesca’s handcuffs to arrest Tate. Authorities previously announced a combined $100,000 reward for public information leading to Tate’s arrest and conviction.

Cook County court records show Tate was arrested last March in south suburban Olympia Fields and charged with criminal trespass to a residence. That case remains pending.

Court records from Kane County, meanwhile, show Tate was arrested in February and charged with obstructing a police officer. He was also arrested in 2023 and charged with obstruction, and both those cases remain active, records show. In the last five years, Tate has been cited 10 times for alleged traffic violations in Kane County.

Huesca, a six-year veteran of CPD, was shot multiple times in the 3100 block of West 56th Street while off-duty but in uniform early on April 21. His gun and vehicle were also taken at the scene of the shooting but were later recovered.

Officers last week arrested a relative of Tate’s who allegedly had come to possess Huesca’s gun. That man, arrested in Morgan Park, now faces a charge of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, court records show.

On what would’ve been Huesca’s 31st birthday last week, the Police Department announced that the officer died in the line of duty, entitling his family to survivors’ death benefits. At his funeral Monday, Huesca was remembered as “an exceptional person with courage, bravery, humility and pride in your work.”