Family, friends remember fallen Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca at funeral
A manhunt is underway for accused cop killer Xavier Tate Jr.
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca was two days shy of his 31st birthday when he was shot and killed on April 21 as he was coming home from work.
His killer remains at large, denying his loved ones of the closure they so desperately need. They gathered on Monday to both laugh and cry as they said their final goodbyes.
For the second time over the last 12 months, St. Rita of Cascia played host to the most solemn and practiced of rituals: the funeral service of a slain Chicago police officer. The relationship between both men, Andrés Vásquez Lasso, and now, Huesca, made Monday even more gut-wrenching.
"I lost Andres first, and now Luis. I lost my two classmates, my best friends, my brothers," said Officer Lucia Chavez, Huesca's friend.
Tears flowed freely during this morning's service, held alternately in English and Spanish in honor of Huesca's Mexican roots.
"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith," Huesca's sister, Liliana O'Brien, read in Spanish as she struggled to get through the verse.
"Me and Luis. He was my partner. He was my best friend. He was my compadre," said Officer Christian Calderon, Huesca's partner.
And while it was Cardinal Blase Cupich who celebrated the mass, delivering his condolences to Huesca's heartbroken parents, it was the fallen officer's family priest who brought the congregation to its feet in remembrance of Huesca and fellow officers Vásquez Lasso, Ella French, Aréanah Preston, among others.
"Viva Luis Huesca. Viva Luis Huesca. Viva Luis Huesca," said Father Matthew Foley with St. Gall Catholic Church.
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Many of Monday's tributes, of course, spoke of the six-year CPD veteran.
"Officer Luis Huesca, star number 18919 you will never be forgotten," said CPD Supt. Larry Snelling. "He always wanted to brighten the day of his fellow officers on the Area 2 Priority Response Team by making them laugh even though the days are difficult."
Snelling also shared a story about how Huesca went to find the owner of a stolen motorcycle to make sure it was returned to the right person.
But there was so much more. There was Huesca the wanderer, who liked nothing more than a road trip whether in the United States or abroad. There was also Huesca the baker and Huesca the loving son, brother and uncle.
"You will always be my best friend. I always looked up to you because you were wise," said Emiliano Huesca Jr., the fallen officer's brother.
Memorializing Huesca's dedication to service and wanderlust, Emiliano recalled his brother jumping into police action after an accident on the roads of Morocco.
""The first thing that Luis did is he traded badges with some of the Moroccan cops. And he put a Moroccan badge on and right away just went to attend the lady that fell from her motorcycle," he said.
In one final act of gratitude for service paid with his life, Chicago's public servants paused for a final salute to Huesca.
"We police officers are just like any citizen. We have family. Brothers, children, friends. Every day, we leave our houses without knowing whether we will come back. It is our duty to take care of others," Chavez said. "This uniform doesn't make us robots. I hope this tragedy helps to unite our city. Our police officers need our community and our community needs police officers."
Huesca was later laid to rest at Rosehill Cemetery.
Mayor Brandon Johnson's office said Monday that the mayor would not be at the funeral. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said family asked that the mayor not attend.
"We continue to send our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Officer Luis Huesca as they heal from the loss of their beloved son, nephew, brother and friend," Johnson said. "As mayor, I vow to continue supporting our police and first responders, uniting our city and remaining committed to working with everyone towards building a better, stronger, safer Chicago. My heart is with the Huesca family today. God bless them and God bless the City of Chicago."
Also Monday, a benefit was held to support Huesca's family at Plumbers Union Hall on West Washington Street in Chicago.
The nonprofit group Brotherhood for the Fallen hosted the event, and all the money raised will go directly to Huesca's family.
"They can talk about him. He's got family and friends here. They can tell stories about him. It's like therapy, when you think about it," said Brotherhood for the Fallen President Rick Cavallero.
Yañez, who survived a shooting on the job that killed his partner, was there to both absorb and offer that therapy for Huesca's colleagues.
"When it first happened, the floodgates opened all over again," Yañez said. "It didn't have to happen. Something needs to change in this city."
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Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway for accused cop killer Xavier Tate Jr. after an arrest warrant was issued in Huesca's death.
The 22-year-old is accused of shooting Officer Huesca with a 40-caliber gun, during what appeared to be a carjacking.
In a YouTube video released by Chicago's Fraternal Order of Police on Saturday, Huesca's siblings and parents spoke out.
"The only thing I want is justice for my son," Huesca's father Emiliano Huesca said.
Huesca's mother, Edith Huesca, spoke publicly for the first time. She said her pain is unbearable.
"I have no words to express how I'm feeling, how my family is feeling," she said. "This tragedy affects all my family. Without Luis, we will never feel the same. For me, as his mother, I've been asking for justice."
In the video, the Huesca family thanked the community for the outpouring of support. They want his killer to be found and prosecuted.
"I can assure you that my brother did not want to die," O'Brien said. "He had hopes, and he had dreams that now he doesn't get to realize because he was robbed from that. And that is something that is too heavy, and I want answers."
Rewards totaling $100,000 are now being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction of Tate Jr., who is from Aurora, Chicago police said.
Crime Stoppers and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are offering a combined $25,000. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, the FBI and the Fraternal Order of Police are offering a combined $75,000.
Anyone that has information is asked to call 1-800-535-STOP or the CPD hotline at 833-408-0069, or email tips@cookcountycrimestoppers.org. All tips are anonymous. Crime Stoppers will provide a code number to possibly redeem the reward
