A series of photos and videos released by police offer a timeline of where and when a ‘person of interest’ police are seeking to identify was spotted the night a Chicago police officer was shot and killed .
On Monday, Chicago police released a series of clips taken from multiple locations showing a person they hope to identify, who they say was “wanted” in connection with the killing of Officer Luis Huesca. According to CPD, the person is considered “armed and dangerous.”
The first images were captured at 10 p.m. Saturday at a Marathon gas station near 63rd and Sacramento, wearing a black jacket and gray sweatshirt. Then, around 11 p.m., the man was seen at a Citgo near 59th and California, this time wearing what appears to be a different outfit and shoes.
Finally, around 2:40 a.m. Sunday, just 10 minutes before the first Shotspotter alert was reported, the man was seen wearing 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 56.th Street. He suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said it was unclear if the person of interest lived in the area and they were hoping to identify him.
“Everyone is terrified. Everyone is scared,” an employee at one of the companies where the footage was filmed told NBC 5. The employee wished to remain anonymous for security reasons.
“I heard one of the cops say, ‘That might be our guy,’ which made me think they got the footage they needed,” the employee said.
Employees at the businesses said they did not recognize the man seen in the footage, but did not notice anything unusual that night.
Chicago police have released a new video in an effort to identify the person responsible for the shooting death of CPD Officer Luis Huesca. (Credit: Chicago Police)
Chicago police are asking for the public’s 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 should 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 visiting the area, officers found an off-duty Chicago police officer suffering from gunshot wounds in the 3100 block of West 56th Street.
Ald. Ray Lopez said a ShotSpotter alert went off just before 3 a.m.
“The ShotSpotter notification was sent before the first 911 call,” he said. “That helped us locate him and find him.”
Officers found Huesca near his home, reporting he had been shot multiple times. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Huesca was returning home after a shift at the time of the shooting. Authorities said he was in uniform and his vehicle was impounded after the shooting.
“The officer was wearing his uniform, (but) he had something covering him,” Supt. » said Larry Snelling. “We’re still in the preliminary stages at the moment.”
Police are investigating the circumstances of the shooting, including whether the incident began with a carjacking, authorities said.
“What we do know is that the officer’s vehicle was taken, but to know the full motive of what happened, we need more information and the detective division is working on it,” he said. Snelling said.
Officials say the ATF and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office are assisting in the investigation.
Who was Officer Huesca?
Huesca worked on the 5 of the departmentth District, the same district where Officer Areanah Preston, who was shot and killed last year, worked.
Huesca, a six-year veteran of the force, was just two days shy of his 31st birthday.st 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 on 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 published by CPD, paid tribute to his deceased colleague and friend.
“Andrés was the embodiment of the American dream, because he came to this country looking for a way to get ahead and make a difference in society,” he said. “I moved away from mediocrity. I did what others would not do in their lifetime and I truly succeeded in this country. He is one of those guys who really deserved this star.
Huesca said the tributes to Vásquez-Lasso were very appropriate given his sacrifice and his journey to the Chicago Police Department.
“If he had seen the hundreds of officers who were outside the commemoration, the people who stopped during their daily activities, exited their homes, exited their vehicles and silently held their hands over their hearts …. I think Andrés would have been very proud,” he said.
The reactions are pouring in
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed support for the Huesca family, saying he met with the officer’s mother and uncle Sunday morning.
“We deeply mourn the death of Officer Luis M. Huesca of the 5th District Priority Response Team as a result of an unconscionable act of gun violence in our city. No family or community should ever have to endure 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 indescribable loss. Our city is in mourning and our condolences go out to their entire family as well as Luis’ fellow officers and the community.
My Office of Community Safety, in collaboration with Supt. Larry Snelling and the Chicago Police Department are committed to using all available resources to apprehend anyone involved in this morning’s shooting and bring them to justice. As the investigation continues, we will provide immediate updates as they become available. »
Huesca is survived by a mother and uncle, according to Snelling.
The officer was “just a great officer, a great human being,” Snelling said.
A procession for Huesca took place Sunday morning, from the University of Chicago Hospital to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
“We really need to keep the family, his mother, in our prayers,” Snelling said. “These were senseless and senseless crimes that took the life of members of our community, today one of our officers.”
NBC Chicago
