While the fierce leader of Chicago P.D.‘s Intelligence Unit, Hank Voight (Jason Beghe) gives very little away when it comes to his personal life, it’s not hard to see that the surly (but well-intentioned) detective is constantly battling a whirlwind of complicated emotions.
Always pushing the line when it comes to the legalities surrounding policing — so much so that Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) mentioned it as a reason for leaving Chicago — you can’t help but wonder what’s behind some of Voight’s questionable decision-making. One definite trigger? His son, Justin Voight (Josh Segarra).
Justin met a tragic end years ago in the Chicago P.D. universe, but it’s undeniable that his fate still affects Voight to this day. That couldn’t have been more apparent in Season 11, Episode 6’s “Survival” when Voight was given a polaroid of Justin at the beginning of the episode, and he repeatedly referenced it throughout the team’s investigation into the abduction of a teen boy named Noah.
“It was very intentional to have Justin come back up in this episode,” showrunner Gwen Sigan tells NBC Insider. “You obviously see mirrors of that with this young boy Noah, and sort of what he represents to Voight. And accessing this part of Voight that has been dormant for a long time… making him think of some of these people and these loved ones that he’s lost. And you know, kind of in a very subtle way opening the question of, does he want any of that again?”
What happened to Voight’s son, Justin, on Chicago P.D.?
Justin was tragically killed in Chicago P.D.‘s Season 3 finale, “Start Digging,” after Voight and Lindsay found him shot in the head and tied up in the trunk of a car. Though he was still alive at the time, he succumbed to his injuries at Gaffney and was declared brain dead.
Though Justin was extremely troubled throughout his three seasons on the show, he died in the midst of noble efforts. He was attempting to save his friend, Melissa, who was being forced into helping a gang of robbers. It was their leader, Kevin Bingham, who murdered Justin. In a fit or revenge, Voight tracked down Kevin, forced him to dig his own grave, and shot him dead.
Before his tragic exit from the show, Justin was charged with a DUI in season 1 and subsequently went into prison. In the following seasons once he was released, he attempted to turn around his life — with a few hick-ups — by joining the military, marrying his girlfriend Olive, and welcoming their son Daniel.
“My dad loved Chicago P.D., so anytime my parents are fans of what I’m doing, I’m a very happy camper,” Segarra told Hola Aloha magazine.
He continued, “I love that Justin was another side to Hank, because Hank is such a beloved character. And I love Jason Beghe, who plays my dad on there. He’s all heart, that’s my big teddy bear right there. So getting to play Justin, his son, and getting to see his emotional side play out on screen, I think was a gift for the viewers because you don’t get to see that a lot from him. It only shows his range. You get to know what he is like with his son and that was such a great element of that show.”
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Though Voight was able to exact his version of justice as the time, Chicago P.D. fans know that he’s never recovered from Justin’s death. He seems to constantly be attempting to make up for his son’s murder, taking many people under his wing in the years since (like his C.I. Anna from Season 9) in a misguided attempt to protect them at any cost.
What is the actor who plays Justin, Josh Segarra, doing now?
Thought it’s been eight years since we last saw Segarra on Chicago P.D., it’s extremely likely you’ve spotted him on your screen again. The Puerto Rican star has kept busy, and recently debuted as a new recurring character on Abbot Elementary‘s latest season. He’s most known for his leading role The Other Two, in addition to appearances in Scream VI, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, FBI, Arrow, and Orange is the New Black.
Originally published Feb 27, 2024.
