(DailyChive.com) – Law enforcement officials detained a major suspect in the killing of a Chicago police officer, whose life was tragically cut short in the early morning of April 21.
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) stated that the 22-year-old suspect, Xavier Tate Jr., was arrested with the help of the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, which is a branch of the US Marshals.
Tate is now being charged with first-degree murder, among other felonies, for the shooting of 30-year-old officer Luis Huesca and subsequently stealing his vehicle.
At the time of his murder, Huesca was returning from his duty, and he had some extra clothing on his uniform, a custom that is followed by off-duty officers.
His stolen vehicle was later found at a nearby location, but the police did not find Huesca’s badge or his official pistol.
According to the CPD, the police collected surveillance footage from almost 90 locations after the death of the officer, which allowed them to identify Tate as the suspect. The footage also revealed that Tate purchased a water bottle before slaying the officer. This water bottle and Tate’s clothing were later found in Huesca’s vehicle.
The weapon used in the murder was converted into an automatic firearm, which allowed the shooter to shoot the officer 20 times.
As the murder investigations unfolded, Chicago police released Tate’s footage to the public. Various law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations even announced a $100,000 reward for individuals informing about Tate’s whereabouts.
Huesca, who had been serving in Chicago police for six years, was supposed to celebrate his 31st birthday two days after his murder. His family has expressed their hope for justice, stating that a timely justice is the only thing that can heal their wounds a bit. The CPD has requested everyone to keep the family of the deceased officer in their prayers.
Tate has previously been arrested for criminal trespassing on a residential property. However, he was later released pending his trial.
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