Fallen Chicago officer's family requests Mayor Johnson not attend funeral: report
Huesca was killed responding to a gunshot alert while off-duty and driving home
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The mayor of Chicago did not attend the funeral of a fallen police officer because the family of the deceased said he was not welcome, according to reports.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was scheduled to attend the funeral of Officer Luis Huesca, 30, who was killed while off-duty last month. Johnson's schedule was later updated to show he would not be attending, and he did not make an appearance at the event.
Family members of Huesca reportedly told the mayor's office that he was not welcome at the funeral, according to multiple local reports.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}CHICAGO POLICE ID SUSPECT WANTED IN MURDER OF OFFICER LUIS HUESCA, OFFER $100K REWARD
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson published a written statement mourning the death of Officer Luis Huesca and expressing condolences to the family. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza claimed on social media that she had personally conveyed the family's wishes to the mayor's office.
"Last night at Ofc. Huesca's visitation, his grief stricken mother asked Rep. Angelica Guerrero Cuellar and me to please tell [Johnson] he was unwelcome at her son's funeral," Mendoza wrote. "We both called him before 10pm asking he please honor her wishes."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}No explicit reason was given for the shunning of Johnson from the funeral, but local outlets have attributed the rift to growing tensions between the police department and mayor's office over crime policies.
Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson's office for comment but has not yet received a reply.
CHICAGO POLICE ID SUSPECT WANTED IN MURDER OF OFFICER LUIS HUESCA, OFFER $100K REWARD
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Officer Luis M. Huesca was killed just two days shy of his 31st birthday. (X/@ChicagoCAPS11)
Huesca, who was off-duty and returning home, responded to a gunshot alert on April 21 and found a wounded officer who had been carjacked on the city's Southwest Side. Huesca was shot multiple times by the suspect around 3 a.m. and was pronounced dead after arriving at a nearby hospital.
Johnson published a written statement mourning the death of Huesca and expressing condolences to the family.
"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," Johnson said in the statement.
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The funeral program for Chicago Police Officer Luis M. Huesca at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel on Monday. Hundreds of mourners lined the streets to say farewell to the police officer who was shot to death while off-duty and heading home from work. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP)
He continued, "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."
Huesca's funeral was held at St. Rita of Cascia Shrine Chapel and was attended by police, firefighters and other mourners paying tribute to the fallen officer.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 22-year-old suspect has not been named by authorities because he has not yet been captured and arraigned.