Chicago mayor runs away from reporters asking about officer's murder

On Thursday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ran from reporters trying to get a statement about an arrest made in connection to the death of police officer Luis Huesca. 

In a video posted on X, the mayor exited the venue he was in, and when he saw the press he quickly ran to a black SUV that was waiting for him. NBC 5 reporter Mary Anne Ahern attempted to get Johnson's attention before she asked, "Why do you have to run from us?" 

"Mayor, we just want a comment about the arrest last night in relation to Officer Huesca," added CBS Chicago's Darius Johnson. 

As the car is pulling away the reporters are in disbelief that Mayor ran from them. 

In a follow-up post, Johnson's office claimed it wasn't the mayor in the video. "The person that is being filmed running was trying to catch the car before it departed," they told the outlet. 

According to Chicago Police, 22-year-old Xavier Tate was arrested and charged with the murder of Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca on Wednesday. He was accused of shooting and killing the officer on April 21, 2024, in the 8th District of Chicago and charged with one count of first-degree murder, aggravated vehicular hijacking, and possession of a stolen firearm. 

According to NBC 5, Officer Huesca's family requested that neither the mayor nor Illinois Governor JB Pritzker attend the funeral for the fallen officer because "they felt that politicians had given offenders, in general, too many chances." 

On Friday, Johnson revealed that he had planned to attend the funeral despite the family's wishes until he spoke with the slain officer's mother Edith. "it was important for me to hear directly from the family, but once I had a direct conversation with Officer Huesca's mother, that's when we made the commitment to honor her request," he told ABC 7. 

Fraternal Order of Police John Catanzara said Huesca told his family that he did not believe the mayor had officers' backs. "These were all based on conversations Luis had with his brother and sister about his job, about the city, about the policies, about the excuses from the politicians for criminal behavior," he said. 

"It just goes to show you the need for a clear and black-and-white protocol about these funerals and who gets invited and who does not. Should be the family's wishes. Period," Catanzara added.