Convicted cop killers Christopher Harris and Kevin Walker were sentenced to 105 and 125 years, respectively, in the Officer Valadez's murder. A third man, Shawn Gaston, was sentenced earlier this year.
"It's a chapter in our lives that we can finally put behind us. It will never bring any closure. The loss will never be any less, but we're thankful that it's over. We're thankful Judge Alonso sentenced them to the maximum," Brenda Valadez, officer's sister, said.
During sentencing, Cook County Judge Jorge Alonso said this was a tragedy for all those involved- the family, the city, the neighborhood. Officer Valdez, 27, was an expectant father when he was murdered.
He was responding to a call of shots fired near 60th and Hermitage when he was fatally shot in the head. Gaston, Harris, and Walker were charged the next day.
Gaston, the gunman, is serving a 125-year sentence.
Police said Gaston, Walker and Harris were shot at by rival gang members earlier that night, and had returned to retaliate. They opened fire on Officer Valadez, who was in plain clothes and talking to a citizen in front of a home. Police say Walker drove the getaway car.
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez prosecuted the cases.
