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Chicago police officer, 30, shot dead overnight while heading home from work: ‘Another sad day’
An off-duty Chicago cop was shot and killed as he came home from work early Sunday in what the police superintendent called “another sad day” for the Windy City.
Cops responded to a gunshot detection alert in the Gage Park neighborhood at about 3 a.m., according to a statement from police.
When officers arrived, they found one of their own — Luis M. Huesca, 30 — with several gunshot wounds, police and the mayor’s office said.
They rushed him to the University of Chicago Hospital, but the six-year department vet did not make it, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
“The officer was the victim of the type of crime that he was working against to keep people safe in this city,” police Superintendent Larry Snelling said. “Another sad day for the Chicago Police Department.”
Crooks also stole Huesca’s car, but police wouldn’t confirm if the shooting was a result of a carjacking.
Authorities didn’t offer a potential motive, and do not have a suspect in custody.
Snelling told reporters that Huesca — who was just a few days shy of his 31st birthday — was still in uniform but wore something over it, as is customary for off-duty cops.
He added that the slain cop was “just a great officer, a great human being,” according to NBC.
“We really need to keep the family, his mother, in our prayers,” Snelling said. “These are senseless, senseless crimes that have taken the lives of our community members, today one of our officers.
“There are people who are brazen and cowardly in the way that they go about their days, and carry out these violent acts against decent, hard-working people in this city,” the superintendent continued. “We’re just trying to live their lives the right way.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson said he met with Huesca’s mom and uncle Sunday morning to assure them that they have “the full support of my administration as they deal with this unspeakable loss.
“No family or community should ever have to suffer such pain,” Johnson said in a statement, adding that the shooting was an “act of unconscionable gun violence,” according to NBC.
“Our city is grieving, and our condolences go out to their entire family as well as Luis’ fellow officers and community,” the mayor said.
The circumstances that led to the shooting are still unclear. Snelling said the police investigation is still in its infancy.
On Sunday, detectives gathered at the scene to mark out spots and put evidence in plastic bags, the Chicago Tribune said.
The killing also terrified locals, who said Gage Park isn’t normally like that.
“The caution tape goes down two or three blocks,” resident Maria Jose told the Tribune in Spanish. “It’s usually so tranquil around here. I feel scared.”
Huesca is the third Chicago cop to be shot this year — and the first fatality, the Tribune said.
With Post wires
US negotiators to head to Pakistan and Iranian cargo ship seized – a recappublished at 00:37 BST 20 April
Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday
Here’s a recap of the latest developments.
US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday with the intention of holding further talks on ending the war, Trump says – but Iranian state media cites unnamed officials as saying Tehran has “no plans for now to participate”.
The prospect of further high-level negotiations – a White House official says Vice-President JD Vance will attend – comes amid reports of fresh attacks on commercial vessels.
Trump says the navy intercepted and took “custody” of an Iranian tanker attempting to pass through the US blockade, “blowing a hole” in the ship’s engine room in the process.
Earlier, in the same post announcing his representatives would travel for more talks, Trump renewed his threat to destroy Iranian energy sites and bridges if no deal is reached.
Reports in Iranian media over the weekend suggest Iran is continuing to work on plans to potentially apply a toll to ships passing through the strait – although it’s unclear if such a move will be implemented.
Iranian state TV cites unnamed officials as saying that “continuation of the so-called naval blockade, violation of the ceasefire and threatening US rhetoric” are slowing progress in reaching an agreement.
Trump also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire, saying more commercial ships have been attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
A UK maritime agency reported two commercial ships came under fire in the strait on Saturday.
Iran’s foreign minister had said on Friday that the strait would be opened – which was shortly followed by Trump saying the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a deal is reached. Iran has since said the strait is closed again.
new video loaded: 8 Children Killed in Louisiana Shooting, Police Say
By Christina Kelso
April 19, 2026
An aerial view shows damage from a tornado, on Saturday in Lena, Ill.
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Communities across the Upper Midwest are cleaning up after tornadoes and severe weather impacted the region over the weekend, damaging and destroying dozens of homes and knocking out power for tens of thousands.
“Numerous” severe storms were tracked across parts of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. At least 66 tornado reports were submitted in multiple states including Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa, the NWS Quad Cities IA/IL office said Sunday.
No deaths have been reported from the severe weather and tornado outbreak.
In Marion Township in Minnesota, about 30 homes were damaged and a dozen have significant damage because of a tornado, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. The tornado also damaged at least 20 homes in Stewartville and there is a temporary shelter in Rochester for people displaced by the storms, according to MPR News.
“Tornado disaster recovery continues to occur at full speed,” the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office said on Saturday.
In Illinois, McClean County officials declared a disaster emergency because of severe storms in Bloomington. “At this time, no injuries have been reported, and emergency response agencies remain actively engaged to ensure public safety and continuity of essential services,” officials said in a statement.
But further north in the village of Lena, an EF-2 tornado caused the “most significant damage” where “many homes and outbuildings were damaged, trees uprooted, and power lines downed,” the NWS said. Numerous roads have also been blocked by debris, the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office also said.
People continue to clean up following a tornado, on Saturday in Lena, Ill.
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There have been no fatalities and no reports of serious injuries associated with the storm, Chief Deputy Andy Schroeder from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office told NPR on Sunday.
More than 43,000 customers lost power in Illinois but power was restored to almost all of them by Saturday night, according to electric utility ComEd.
Several tornadoes also occurred across Wisconsin, according to the NWS office in La Crosse. Twenty-six tornado warnings were issued by the office on Friday, the most in one day since the weather service office was built in 1995.
In one Marathon County town, 75 homes were destroyed by a tornado, according to Ringle Fire Chief Chris Kielman.
“It took out a whole residential area,” Kielman said, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
The American Red Cross of Wisconsin said volunteers are helping those impacted by the storm with meals, shelter and support.
Parts of the state are still dealing with multiple rounds of severe weather and tornadoes from earlier in the week that brought flooding to some communities.
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