$100K in rewards offered for information leading to Xavier Tate, Jr., accused killer of Ofc. Huesca

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A manhunt is underway for accused cop killer Xavier Tate, Jr. after an arrest warrant was issued for the slaying of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca.

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.

An outpouring of love continued Saturday as the symbols of grief grow for Officer Huesca in the Gage Park neighborhood, where he lived and lost his life.

"Prayer is pretty powerful," resident Alex Gonzalez said. "We always include them, the family, in our prayers."

The memorial is adorned with balloons and flowers, at the very spot where he was murdered, last Sunday, while still in his police uniform.

"It's kind of hard to move on from it, because it's like, anything could happen at this point," resident Sarah Soto said.

"Very scary and sad, and hopefully this person gets caught." Gonzalez said.

Authorities issued a community alert Friday, announcing 22-year-old Xavier Tate, Jr. is wanted in connection with the officer's murder.

Tate, Jr. is accused of shooting Officer Huesca with a 40-caliber gun, during what appeared to be a carjacking.

Additional court documents show Tate, Jr. was arrested on March 6 on a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing in Olympia Fields. He was supposed to be in court for that charge on Wednesday in Markham, but he did not show up for that appearance.

Xavier Tate, Jr., is wanted for the murder of CPD Officer Luis Huesca.

Chicago Police Department

Crime Stoppers and ATF 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.

The FBI released more information about the suspect Saturday.

Tate, Jr. has a tattoo on the right side of his neck of the word "majesty" under a crown, and additional tattoos on his chest and body, the FBI said. He has ties to Chicago, Aurora, Olympia Fields, Champaign and Decatur, Illinois. He may go by the nickname "Zay." His heights is 5'11" and he weighs approximately 175 pounds.

Image courtesy of FBI:

On Friday night, the ongoing investigation brought police to the 10800 block of South Hale Avenue, in the city's Morgan Park neighborhood. Nearby residents said authorities surrounded a home there.

Detectives returned to canvass the neighborhood on Saturday afternoon.

"There was one police officer outside in the street, and he got out of the car and about five or six officers hit the block. They all went and surrounded the block," a neighborhood resident told ABC7.

Earlier this week, CPD had circulated a two-minute video compilation from four distinct locations, showing a man they describe as a suspect going from one gas station convenience store to another in the hours before the murder early Sunday morning. The suspect, described as armed and dangerous, is then seen walking in the area near 55th and Kedzie both just before and about 45 minutes after the murder. Police confirmed Friday the person in the video is Tate, Jr.

"It's pretty tragic, especially since it's like really close to home," Soto said. "It's hard to believe that it's like a block away from us. It hard to believe."

A visitation will be held at Blake Lamb Funeral Home in Oak Lawn Sunday, which is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. His funeral will be held Monday at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel at 10 a.m.

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