Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is set to miss the funeral of Officer Luis Huesca, a Chicago policeman who was shot and killed earlier this month while off duty—his presence there, rendered unneeded by a grieving family's request for his absence. According to NBC Chicago, the family directly asked Johnson not to attend, communicated through Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza by the officer's mother, in a pain-filled plea reflecting the fractious relationship between some of the city's residents and its officials.
"We continue to send our deepest condolences to the family and colleagues of Officer Luis Huesca as they heal from the loss of their beloved son, nephew, brother and friend," Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement Monday morning, "As mayor, I vow to continue supporting our police and first responders, uniting our city and remaining committed to working with everyone towards building a better, stronger, safer Chicago my heart is with the Huesca family today, God bless them and God bless the City of Chicago," as reported by WGN-TV. The tribute and respect due to Huesca were marked by lowered state flags as ordered by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who also did not list the funeral in his schedule.
Huesca's tragic death occurred on April 21st when he was found gunned down in the early hours after his shift in Chicago's Gage Park neighborhood. The authorities, in their pursuit of justice for the fallen officer, have issued an arrest warrant for suspect Xavier Tate Jr., age 22, pleading for the public's help with a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Despite the absence of the city's mayor, Officer Huesca's funeral proceeded with full police honors, his caravan departing from Blake-Lamb Funeral Home with the final service at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel, and the live broadcast was streamed on multiple local news channels offering colleagues, loved ones, and a city in reflection, the chance to bid farewell and honor to a public servant whose end galvanized a community's grief, and a nation's attention to the perils those in blue encounter, even when the shield is at rest.
