A series of photos and videos released by police offer a timeline of where and when a "person of interest" police are looking to identify was spotted the night a Chicago police officer was shot and killed.
On Monday, Chicago police released a series of clips taken in multiple locations showing a person they are hoping to identify, who they said was "wanted" in connection with the killing of Officer Luis Huesca. According to CPD, the person is considered, "armed and dangerous."
The first footage was captured at 10 p.m. Saturday at a Marathon gas station near 63rd and Sacramento wearing a black jacket and grey sweatshirt. Then, around 11 p.m., the man was seen at a Citgo near 59th and California, this time wearing what appears to be different attire and shoes.
Finally, around 2:40 a.m. Sunday, just 10 minutes before the first Shotspotter alert signaled, the man was seen in a gray coat walking in the 5500 block of South Kedzie Avenue in the Gage Park neighborhood.
After a search of the area, officers found Huesca in the 3100 block of West 56th Street. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, and was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said it's unclear if the person of interest lives in the area and they are hoping to identify him.
"Everybody is terrified. Everybody is scared," an employee at one of the businesses where the footage was captured told NBC 5. The employee wished to remain anonymous for safety concerns.
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"I did hear one of the cops say, 'This might be our guy,' so that made me think they got the footage that they needed," the employee said.
Employees at the businesses said they didn't recognize the man seen in the footage, but they also didn't notice anything out of the ordinary that night.
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Chicago police are asking the public for help in identifying the individual shown in the videos. Anyone with information can submit anonymous tips at CPDTip.com. Witnesses can also call Detective Campbell or Area One Detectives at 312-747-8380.
The individual is to be treated as armed and dangerous, according to police.
Here's what we know so far about the shooting:
What happened?
According to officials, officers responded to a "gunshot detection" alert at 2:53 a.m. in the 5500 block of South Kedzie Avenue.
Authorities said after touring the area, officers discovered an off-duty Chicago police officer with gunshot wounds in the 3100 block of West 56th Street.
Ald. Ray Lopez said a ShotSpotter alert went out just before 3 a.m.
“The ShotSpotter notification went out before the first 911 call came out,” he said. “That helped us locate and find him.”
Officers found Huesca near his home, reporting that he had been shot several times. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Huesca was on his way home after a shift at the time of the shooting. Officials said he was in uniform and his vehicle was taken following the shooting.
“The officer was wearing his uniform, (but) he had something covering it up,” Supt. Larry Snelling said. “We’re still at preliminary stages right now.”
Police are investigating the circumstances of the shooting, including whether the incident began as a carjacking, according to officials.
“What we do know is that the officer’s vehicle was taken, but to get to the total motive of what happened we need more information and the detective division is working on that," Snelling said.
According to officials, the ATF and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office are helping to investigate.
Who was Officer Huesca?
Huesca worked out of the department’s 5th District, the same district where Officer Aréanah Preston, shot and killed last year, worked.
Huesca, a six-year veteran of the force, was just two days shy of his 31st birthday Sunday when he was shot, police said.
The shooting comes just 13 months after the death of Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez-Lasso, who was killed March 1, 2023 while responding to a domestic disturbance call in the 5200 block of South Spaulding Avenue.
Huesca was friends with Vásquez-Lasso, and in a video released by CPD paid tribute to his fallen colleague and friend.
“Andrés was the epitome of the American dream, because he came to this country looking for a way to move upward, make a societal difference,” he said. “Stepped away from mediocrity. Did what others would not do in their lifetime, and actually succeeded in this country. He’s one of those guys that actually deserved this star.”
Huesca said that the tributes paid to Vásquez-Lasso were entirely fitting given his sacrifice and his journey to the Chicago Police Department.
“Had he seen the hundreds of officers that were outside the commemoration, the people that paused during their daily activities, stepped out of their houses, stepped out of their vehicles, and silently held their hands over their hearts…. I think Andrés would have been very proud,” he said.
Huesca's visitation will be held Sunday, April 28 at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn, and he will be laid to rest the following day at Rosehill Cemetery in Ravenswood following a funeral at St. Rita of Cascia on the city's Southwest Side.
Reactions pour in
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his support for the Huesca family, saying he met with the officer’s mother and uncle Sunday morning.
"We are deeply mourning the death of Officer Luis M. Huesca of the 5th District/Priority Response Team following an act of unconscionable gun violence in our city. No family or community should ever have to suffer such pain.
I met with Officer Huesca’s mother and uncle this morning and assured them that they have the full support of my administration as they deal with this unspeakable loss. Our city is grieving, and our condolences go out to their entire family as well as Luis’ fellow officers and community.
My Office of Community Safety, in collaboration with Supt. Larry Snelling and the Chicago Police Department, is committed to putting every resource available toward apprehending anyone involved in this morning's shooting and bringing them to justice. As the investigation continues, we will provide immediate updates as they become available."
Huesca is survived by a mother and an uncle, according to Snelling.
The officer was "just a great officer, a great human being," Snelling said.
A procession for Huesca from University of Chicago Hospital to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office was held Sunday morning.
"We really need to keep the family, his mother, in our prayers," Snelling said. "These are senseless, senseless crimes that have taken the lives of our community members, today one of our officers."
