Relative of Chicago police officer Luis Huesca's accused killer jailed on gun charge

CHICAGO (CBS) — As Chicago police continue to search for the accused killer of Officer Luis Huesca, a relative of the alleged gunman was in court on Tuesday, accused of trying to ditch the officer's stolen gun.

Caschaus Tate, 20, is facing multiple charges, including one for an unrelated burglary in Richton Park and one for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in Chicago. 

Tate faces the weapons charge for allegedly throwing Huesca's gun over a fence outside his home in Morgan Park when police came looking for the accused killer, 22-year-old Xavier Tate Jr., who is charged with first-degree murder Huesca's death. Police sources confirmed the two are relatives but have not provided details on that relationship. 

Huesca, a six-year veteran who worked with the Area 2 Priority Response Team, was shot and killed returning home from his shift while still in uniform on April 21 in the 5500 block of South Kedzie Avenue. His vehicle was stolen, but has since been recovered. His gun and badge were also missing.

A warrant has been issued for Xavier Tate Jr.'s arrest. He's been on the run since the day Huesca was killed.

Suspect's relative ordered to remain in jail

Caschaus Tate appeared in court Tuesday afternoon on an unrelated burglary charge, as Cook County prosecutors sought to have him held in jail for violating the terms of his release in that case.

On Friday, police investigating Huesca's murder went to Caschaus Tate's home, looking for known contacts for Xavier Tate Jr. or Xavier himself, according to Cook County prosecutors. Investigators had determined Xavier had taken an Uber to Caschaus' home the morning of Huesca's murder.

Caschaus Tate and his mother were at home at the time police came to investigate, and Caschaus asked officers to wait because his girlfriend was naked in the bedroom, prosecutors said. When Caschaus went into a bedroom as officers waited in the living room, he closed the door and went outside, where he tossed a semi-automatic Glock handgun into a neighbor's yard. Officers outside the home saw Caschaus toss the gun into the neighbor's yard and notified officers inside.

Police arrested Caschaus at the scene and recovered the gun from the neighbor's yard, prosecutors said. Caschaus does not have a valid Firearm Owners Identification card and has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon after prosecutors said he admitted to possessing the officer's stolen gun.

The gun he is accused of tossing into a neighbor's yard was not loaded, but the magazine was found in a nearby gangway, according to prosecutors. All but two digits of the gun's serial number had been scratched off, but prosecutors said it matched Huesca's gun. 

A Cook County judge on Tuesday granted prosecutors' request to have Caschaus detained at Cook County jail as he awaits trial on the unrelated burglary charge. Caschaus is due back in court on Friday on the weapons charge tied to the investigation of Officer Huesca's murder.

Suspect's relative accused of stealing ATM days before officer's murder

In the burglary case, prosecutors said Caschaus and an accomplice used a stolen Audi A6 to break into a Richton Park convenience store and steal the ATM inside on April 19. 

CBS 2 has obtained surveillance video of that burglary at Katie's Convenience. The store's owner said the business had been open for only four days at the time of the heist.

Video shows the Audi slamming into the store, and two men using heavy objects to break the windows before carrying the ATM through the shattered door. Prosecutors said Caschaus and his accomplice loaded the ATM into the Audi and drove off.

Police chased the stolen Audi as it got onto Interstate 57, where the driver crashed into a ditch, according to prosecutors. Caschus was found about 400 feet away in tall grass alongside the expressway. His accomplice got away.

Caschaus made his first court appearance in the burglary case on the same day police later came to his house looking for Officer Huesca's accused killer. He had been released from custody in that case on the condition that he show up for all future court dates and not commit any further crimes. Prosecutors said he knowingly violated the conditions of his release when he tried to ditch Officer Huesca's gun later that same day.

Meantime, Xavier Tate Jr. remains on the run in Huesca's death. Crime Stoppers and ATF are offering a combined $25,000 for information leading to the arrest. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation, the FBI, and the Fraternal Order of Police are offering a combined $75,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction, police say. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP or submit a tip at CPDTip.com. 

As the investigation continues, the community continues mourning for Officer Huesca. On Monday night, hundreds gathered at Chicago Plumbers Union Hall to honor him just hours after his funeral. The purpose of the fundraiser was to provide monetary support for his family.

Police Supt. Larry Snelling pushes public safety

On Tuesday night, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling showed up to the fourth and final public forum with the Commission for Public Safety and Accountability.

The commission is required by law to hold four public hearings with a new superintendent. Snelling was confirmed by the City Council as police superintendent in September.

General public safety was the top priority for the meeting, but the investigation into Huesca's murder was still a top priority. Some were talking about the slain officer at the meeting.

Snelling tried to assure those in the room that public safety remains a top concern for the CPD – even as they work the unsolved murder.

"For those who are in fear in your communities - you fear this crime - we are working on better way of approaching these situations," said Snelling.