Midwest
Democrat mayor not welcome at funeral for slain police officer
A funeral service was held Monday for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez, killed two weeks ago in the line of duty, and the city’s mayor did not attend at the request of the officer’s family members.
Darion C. McMillian, 23, was charged with several felonies, including one count of first-degree murder, for the killing of the 26-year-old officer on Nov. 4.
“My brother and I… we wanted to become Chicago police officers… it was our calling,” Martinez’s brother, Adrian Martinez, also a police officer, told mourners at the funeral. “Becoming police officers was not just a job title for us, but who we were supposed to be.”
Hundreds of mourners, including police officers, citizens and public officials, gathered for the funeral.
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After originally planning to attend the service, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson reversed his decision on Saturday, Fox 32 reported.
“The family of Officer Enrique Martinez continues to be in my prayers as they prepare to lay him to rest. I heard from the family and am honoring their request and will no longer plan to attend the honors funeral services,” the mayor’s statement read.
“This has been an emotional two weeks for the loved ones of Officer Martinez, the Chicago Police Department, and the city of Chicago. We all want to do right by Officer Martinez and give his family and the CPD family space to grieve. The focus must remain on Officer Martinez, his loved ones, and the CPD as our city continues to honor his ultimate sacrifice and legacy of service.”
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at City Hall on Jan. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
That latest statement came after the mayor’s previous comments on Friday, when he said he would be attending.
“Mayor Johnson will attend honors funeral services and celebration of life for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez. Mayor Johnson will join Superintendent Snelling and the Chicago Police Department to honor the legacy of service Officer Martinez will forever inspire. Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with the Martinez family and Officer Martinez’s beloved fiancé.
WATCH: Hundreds mourn Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez
“The Mayor of Chicago will attend all honors funeral services for every Police Officer, Firefighter or EMT who loses their life in the line of duty. These official honor services are solemn moments to honor the sacrifice of our officers and first responders. It is the Mayor’s honor to support the officers of the entire Chicago Police Department, especially in moments of grief.”
Representatives for Martinez’s family held a press conference on Friday evening, when they said that both Johnson and Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker would not be welcomed at the funeral, Fox 32 reported.
The governor’s office said it always respects the wishes of the family and would not attend, according to the outlet.
CHICAGO OFFICIALS DISCUSS THE KILLING OF A CITY POLICE OFFICER
Police Officer Enrique Martinez’s visitation services. (Facebook/Chicago Police Department)
Fatal Chicago shooting
Chicago police said the fatal shooting happened when Martinez and his partner responded to a report about a vehicle, with three people inside, blocking traffic in the East Chatham neighborhood.
Before additional officers arrived to assist, Martinez and his partner spoke with the driver and observed McMillian reaching for a bag on the floor of the vehicle, police said.
When instructed to stop, McMillian allegedly pulled out a handgun and fired, fatally wounding Martinez.
“Officer Martinez and all of our police officers run toward this danger to protect everyone in the city,” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a previous press conference. “We all need to be outraged at the violent offenders who are creating endless cycles of trauma in our communities.
‘FURIOUS’ CHICAGO RESIDENTS TEAR INTO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON BEFORE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX HIKE SHOT DOWN
Chicago police announced the arrest of Darion McMillian, who is charged in connection with the murder of Officer Enrique Martinez. (Chicago Police Department)
Martinez is survived by his mother, Rosa; father, Adrian; sister, Angelica; brother, Adrian, and fiancée, Lesly, according to his obituary.
“On the night of his murder, my brother was taken from all of us, our world stopped. On his final tour, my brother looked evil and terror in the face and took his final breath,” Adrian Martinez said at the funeral. “That night, my brother saved countless lives, as he was pierced by multiple bullets. Every bullet that struck my brother could have taken the life of someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, or friend.”
“Because of my brother’s strength and courage, we are all able to see another day, embrace a loved one…and live without fear. Enrique will always be my little brother…you will never be forgotten.”
Fox News Digital’s Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
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Indiana
Cignetti Mum on Indiana Football’s Replacements for Injured Starter Stephen Daley
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana football’s biggest question likely won’t get an answer until the No. 1 Hoosiers (13-0) kick off at 4 p.m. ET Jan. 1 against Alabama (10-3) in the Rose Bowl.
After losing All-Big Ten honorable mention defensive end Stephen Daley, who led the conference and tied for the Division I lead with 19 tackles for loss, to a knee injury suffered while celebrating the Hoosiers’ Big Ten championship game victory over Ohio State on Dec. 6, Indiana must pivot to replace his production.
But Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, who met with reporters Monday on Zoom, didn’t pull back the curtain covering the Hoosiers’ plan to fill Daley’s void.
“Yeah, well, Bryant Haines does a great job coordinating our defense,” Cignetti said. “We have a lot of confidence in our players, and we’ll find the best solution that gives us the best chance to be successful.”
Indiana has plenty of possible solutions.
Potential replacements for Stephen Daley
The first centers around the “next man up” approach, a role Daley thrived in after Indiana lost starting edge defender Kellan Wyatt to a season-ending knee injury in a 38-13 win over Michigan State on Oct. 18.
Daniel Ndukwe, a 6-foot-3, 244-pound sophomore from Lithonia, Ga., saw snaps against Wisconsin and Ohio State in relief of starting edge defender Mikail Kamara, who battled lower-body ailments.
Ndukwe has played 104 snaps on defense — 47 in run defense, 32 in pass rush and 25 in coverage — while registering five total pressures, including four quarterback hurries and one hit, according toPro Football Focus. He’s steadily risen up the depth chart this fall, taking over as the No. 3 edge rusher after Wyatt’s injury and the No. 2 when Kamara missed time.
The Hoosiers have other options to consider beyond merely replacing Daley with Ndukwe.
Indiana moved defensive lineman Mario Landino from field defensive end, where he spent his freshman season, to defensive tackle over the offseason. The 6-foot-4, 284-pound sophomore has flourished on the interior, collecting five sacks and six tackles for loss this fall.
Landino has played sparingly on the outside this season, as he’s played either left or right defensive end on 76 of his 423 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. But he’s a viable candidate to see more snaps on the end of the line of scrimmage.
Be it promoting Ndukwe to a larger role, kicking Landino outside or reshuffling additional pieces, Indiana’s coaching staff has lots to ponder — and Cignetti gave no indication of which avenue the Hoosiers plan to take.
“It’s a little bit of all,” Cignetti said. “And I guess we’ll see when we play the game what we decide to do, right?”
Iowa
Iowa State football running back Carson Hansen to leave Cyclones
Iowa State running back Carson Hansen speaks to the media after win
Iowa State running back Carson Hansen speaks to the media after win over Arizona
Iowa State football running back Carson Hansen announced on Dec. 23 that he “will be pursuing new opportunities with my last year of eligibility.”
Hansen is the latest Cyclones star to indicate that he will transfer to another school in the wake of coach Matt Campbell’s departure to Penn State. Quarterback Rocco Becht and cornerbacks Jeremiah Cooper and Jontez Williams are among the other Iowa State standouts leaving Ames.
Hansen, a native of Lakeville, Minn., rushed for 952 yards on 188 carries during his junior season with the Cyclones. In three years with Iowa State, he compiled 1,771 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.
Hansen was the Cyclones’ leading rusher in 2024 and 2025.
“My three years here at Iowa State have been a life changing experience because of the people who make up Ames …” Hansen wrote on Twitter/X. “Thank you to the fans that shook Jack Trice every Saturday and for your belief in this football team.”
Campbell announced on Dec. 5 that he was leaving Iowa State after 10 years as the Cyclones’ head coach. He was quickly succeeded by Washington State’s Jimmy Rogers, who has a big job in front of him to replace the exodus of talent transferring out of Ames.
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