Alexander Villa remains behind bars, the third man charged with the 2011 murder of Chicago Police Officer Clifton Lewis.
Saturday evening, satisfaction mixed with sorrow as the slain officer's family learned of the arrest.
"The news he gave me left me speechless, had me elated, had me crying ," said Latrice Tucker, Lewis'
The 25-year-old purported gang member faces charges of first-degree murder of a police officer, aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm and armed robbery with a firearm in connection with the December 29, 2011 holdup at a West Side convenience store.
"It was an assassination. Officer Lewis barely had a chance to respond to the threat," said CPD Superintendent Garry McCarthy.
The charges against Villa come almost two years after his alleged partners in crime, Edgardo Colon and Tyrone Clay, along with another person, implicated him in the murder.
Police arrested Colon and Clay in January 2012.
Prosecutors say armed with a Tec-9 type weapon, he and Clay entered M and M Quick Foods on North Austin Boulevard.
That's when Villa climbed over the counter and fired shots at Lewis, hitting him in the stomach.
"And defendant Villa also reached down to Officer Lewis' body as he was laying at his feet and took his service revolver," said Cook County Assistant States Attorney Andy Varga.
The two also allegedly stole $700 from the register.
Saturday morning, a Cook County judge denied bond for Villa who was already in jail for a pending reckless homicide case and drug charge.
"We believe in our client's innocence," said defense attorney Davor Sicel.
"He's innocent," said Villa's mother, Lily Rivera. "He didn't do any of this, it's all lies."
Saturday's development comes as the two-year anniversary of Lewis' slaying nears and is bittersweet for the 15th Police District Tact Team Lewis was a member of when he was killed.
"I never forget him. I have some days I have good days, some days I have bad days, but today is a good day for all of us," said Lewis' partner, Officer Calvin Jones.
