CHICAGO– A judge denied pretrial release for a 22-year-old man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of an off-duty Chicago police officer during a court hearing Friday.
Xavier L. Tate Jr. is charged with first-degree murder, aggravated vehicle hijacking and possession of a stolen firearm in the April 21 killing of Officer Luis M. Huesca, 30.
Huesca was shot 10 times, prosecutors said in court.
Chicago Police Chief Antoinette Ursitti said at a news conference Friday that investigators identified Tate in part thanks to video evidence collected at more than 90 locations after Huesca was killed.
Video from the area surrounding the shooting allowed detectives to track Tate to a business where he bought a bottle of water using a relative’s bank card, Ursitti said. When police found Huesca’s stolen vehicle after the shooting, the water bottle and clothing Tate was wearing at the time of the shooting were found in the car.
Huesca’s family released a statement saying in part: “The despicable nature of this crime and its devastating impact on our family and community require an uncompromising pursuit of justice. While no amount of justice can bring Officer Huesca back or fully heal our hearts, we take comfort in his lasting legacy of service and courage.”
Messages seeking information about whether Tate has an attorney who could speak on his behalf were left by The Associated Press with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Tate was taken into custody Wednesday evening by Chicago Police and the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. A Cook County judge issued a warrant for his arrest last Friday.
Huesca was shot multiple times on the city’s southwest side shortly before 3 a.m. on April 21 and pronounced dead at a hospital.
He was wearing a uniform but wore something on top to cover it, as is common for off-duty officers, Chief Larry Snelling said.
Hundreds of people lined the streets Monday for a funeral procession for Huesca, who was buried after church services in Chicago.