Hunt still on for killer of Austin police officer


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The funeral for slain officer Clifton Lewis will be held this morning.

A ceremonial arrival is scheduled for 9 a.m. at United Missionary Baptist Church, 4242 W. Roosevelt Road, followed by public viewing from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

A St. Jude ceremony will be held at 10:45 a.m., followed by church services at 11 a.m.

On Wednesday, Chicago Police Superintendant Garry McCarthy said detectives are sifting through a significant number of leads, the Chicago Tribune reports.

Lewis, 41, an eight-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was off-duty, working as a security guard at M&M Quick Foods, 1201 N. Austin Blvd., on Dec. 29 when he was fatally shot during a robbery by two robbers.

“We’re getting a lot of cooperation from the community. We have enormous amounts of information coming in,” McCarthy said at a news conference at the West Side’s Austin District station, where Lewis worked as a tactical unit officer. “The point is, we haven’t caught the right bit of information.”

Officers handed out fliers Wednesday in the Austin neighborhood as well as nearby Oak Park, urging residents to come forward with any information that could be useful in the investigation.

There’s now a $30,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Lewis’ killing.

Lewis got engaged to his longtime girlfriend just a few days before his death. He lived in South Austin.

Earlier this week, Superintendent McCarthy announced that the department recovered 131 guns during a New Year’s Eve initiative, up from 83 guns recovered on New Year’s Eve in 2010.

Several types of guns were recovered, including assault rifles, semi-automatic guns and handguns, some of which were on display during a press conference held at the 15th District.

“The entire Chicago Police Department would like to extend our deepest condolences to Officer Lewis’ family and fiancée, and tomorrow we will join them, his friends and thousands of fellow officers to honor his bravery and dedication,” McCarthy said at the Wednesday press conference.

“We ask that you keep them in your prayers,” McCarthy said.

If you have information about Lewis’ slaying, please call 1-888-YPO- SHOT.

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