Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was caught on camera bolting from local reporters who wanted to ask him about the recent arrest of an alleged cop killer.
Johnson was at a National Day of Prayer service Thursday in the Windy City, with his chauffeured car waiting in an alley, according to reports.
Local reporters darted after the mayor, hollering for him to wait and to comment about the arrest of Xavier Tate Jr., who allegedly killed Chicago Police Officer Luis Huesca in a carjacking last month, according to video.
“Mr. Mayor, why do you have to run from us?” NBC 5’s Mary Ann Ahern shouted, as Johnson is seen scrambling amid a flock of suited aides before jumping into a black SUV.
“Mayor, we just want a comment last night about the arrest last night in relation to Officer Huesca,” CBS Chicago’s Darius Johnson said.
The mayor’s office insisted to CBS Chicago it wasn’t the mayor in the video, claiming, “The person that is being filmed running was trying to catch the car before it departed.”
Tate, 22, was arrested Wednesday in Glendale Heights, 10 days after he allegedly killed the six-year department vet in a brutal early morning shooting on April 21, according to Chicago police.
He has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated vehicular hijacking and possession of a stolen firearm. A judge denied him pretrial release.
The cold-blooded accused killer gunned down the off-duty cop just before 3 as he was driving to his home in Gage Park after his shift and while still in his uniform, authorities said.
Tate allegedly approached the driver’s side and shot Huesca 10 times, prosecutors said.
Huesca was rushed to the University of Chicago Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“The vile nature of this crime and its devastating impact on our family and the community demand uncompromising pursuit of justice,” Huesca’s family said.
“While no measure of justice can bring Officer Huesca back or fully heal our hearts, we take solace in his enduring legacy of service and bravery.”
Hundreds of people lined the city’s streets Monday for Huesca’s funeral procession and attended services for the fallen officer.
Huesca’s family asked that neither Johnson nor Gov. JB Pritzker attend the slain cop’s funeral because of their soft-on-crime policies, NBC 5 reported.
With Post wires.
