Chicago police officer fatally shot overnight while heading home from work

CHICAGO (AP) — A 30-year-old Chicago police officer was shot and killed overnight on the city’s southwest side while heading home from work, police said Sunday.

Superintendent Larry Snelling told reporters the officer was going home and still in uniform, but wearing something on top of the uniform to cover it as is customary for off-duty officers. The officer was shot multiple times early Sunday and pronounced dead at a Chicago hospital, Snelling said.

The officer was identified as Luis M. Huesca by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office.

Police did not offer a motive.

The officer’s vehicle was taken, but police would not confirm whether the shooting was part of a carjacking, citing a preliminary investigation. Police did not have a suspect in custody.

“The officer was the victim of the type of crime that he was working against to keep people safe in this city,” Snelling said. “Another sad day for the Chicago Police Department.”

In a statement, police said officers responded to a gunshot detection alert just before 3 a.m. on the city’s southwest side and found the off-duty officer outside with gunshot wounds.

Huesca was a six-year veteran of the department and just two days shy of his 31st birthday.

Johnson said he met with Huesca’s family Sunday morning.

“No family or community should ever have to suffer such pain,” Johnson said in a statement. “Our city is grieving, and our condolences go out to their entire family as well as Luis’ fellow officers and community.”