Officer Valadez Honored, Laid To Rest

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jun 6, 2009 7:15PM

Over a thousand Chicago Police officers gathered at a funeral home in Oak Lawn yesterday to honor officer Alejandro "Alex" Valadez, the 27-year-old officer who died this week after being shot while on duty. Officer Tom Delgado told the Sun-Times, "There was a lot of sorrow, but it was also a celebration of how the CPD family can come together to support one of its own." Valadez was shot early Monday morning when he and his partner answered a call of shots fired in the Englewood neighborhood where they are based. Shots were then fired from a nearby car, striking Valadez multiple times; he died Monday afternoon. Meanwhile, two men - Kevin Walker, 21, and Shawn Gaston, 20 - are each being held on charges of first-degree murder of a peace officer, one count of first-degree murder, and one count of attempted murder. The Tribune has pictures of yesterday's wake.