Relative of suspected cop killer tossed gun over fence as investigators searched his home: Chicago police report

Caschaus Tate (Chicago Police Department)

CHICAGO — A relative of Xavier Tate, Jr., the man authorities say killed Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca is facing felony gun charges after he allegedly tossed a gun over a backyard fence as cops investigating Huesca’s murder began to walk through his home.

Caschaus Tate, 20, had been on pretrial release for just seven days in a pending burglary case when officers from CPD’s Investigative Response Team (IRT) arrived at his home in the 10800 block of South Hale on Friday afternoon, according to court records. IRT detectives are responsible for investigating all cases involving the death of a Chicago police officer.

According to Tate’s arrest report, officers went to the home to interview a woman regarding Huesca’s murder. She went on to give police permission to do a walk-through of her home, the report said.

As the officers walked toward the front door to enter the home, they encountered Caschaus Tate in the doorway, the report said.

“Hold on,” Tate allegedly told the cops. “My girlfriend is naked in my bedroom.” 

Tate proceeded to go into a bedroom and close the door, the officers said.

A short time later, a covert surveillance team watching the home saw Tate throw a firearm over the back fence into a neighboring yard, according to the report. The covert unit notified the officers inside the home, and they detained Tate. Officers found a chair outside the bedroom window that would allow someone to enter and exit the room to the outside, the report said.

Investigators allegedly recovered a loaded 9-millimeter handgun from the yard next door.

On Monday, CPD Supt. Larry Snelling revealed that investigators had located Huesca’s firearm, which was missing when officers found his body. Asked if the gun police recovered from the yard was Huesca’s, a police spokesperson said they had no additional information to provide about the matter.

Prosecutors charged Tate with one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He is currently detained for violating the terms of pretrial release in the pending burglary matter. A judge will review his detention status on Tuesday.

In the burglary case, Tate is accused of burglarizing a convenience store and being inside a vehicle he did not own on April 19. He was cited and released from the police station. Court records show he appeared as scheduled on the morning of April 26, just a couple of hours before the IRT team paid his home a visit.

The charging documents in the Richton Park case list Tate’s home address in the 7800 block of South Carpenter, more than four miles from the Hale Avenue address listed in his latest arrest report.

Like Caschaus, Xavier Tate was on pretrial release when he allegedly killed Huesca. Olympia Fields police arrested Xavier Tate on March 6 after he allegedly entered a residence without permission, according to court records. He was also cited and released from the police station. But, unlike Caschaus, Xavier did not show up for his court date last Wednesday, three days after Huesca’s death.

Rewards totaling $100,000 are being offered for information leading to Xavier Tate’s arrest and conviction. You can submit anonymous tips by calling CrimeStoppers at 1-800-535-STOP or online at CPDTip.com.

Xavier Tate Jr. (Chicago Police Department)

According to the FBI, Xavier Tate also goes by the names “Zay” and Lamont Tate. He’s 5’11” tall and 175 pounds. The agency said he has a tattoo of the word “majesty” under a crown on the right side of his neck, with more tattoos on his chest and body. Besides Chicago and Aurora, he has ties to Olympia Fields, Champaign, and Decatur, the FBI said.

Tate’s Olympia Fields mugshot shows some of his tattoos (FBI)

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