Crime & Law
Chicago Police Officer Fatally Shot Following Investigatory Stop in Chatham
Officer Krystal Rivera. (Courtesy of Chicago Police Department)
A “young, vibrant and hardworking” Chicago police officer was fatally shot while pursuing a fleeing suspect in the Chatham neighborhood late Thursday night.
Chicago police officials late Friday confirmed the officer, Krystal Rivera, was "unintentionally" shot by a fellow officer.
Rivera, a 36-year-old woman and mother of a young daughter, was killed during a foot pursuit, according to Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.
“She was protecting lives and she was a hero and she lost her life tragically doing the job that she loved,” Snelling said. “She wanted to make Chicago a better place, she wanted to make it safer and we thank her for that.”
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office on Friday afternoon confirmed Rivera died from a gunshot wound to her back. Officials had not previously confirmed who fired the bullet that killed her.
Rivera was a four-year department veteran assigned to a 6th District tactical team that was on patrol Thursday when they attempted to conduct an investigatory stop on a male they believed to be armed in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue.
That person fled into a nearby apartment, Snelling said, and when officers followed inside, they were confronted by a second person armed with a rifle who pointed that weapon at police. Snelling said at some point, one officer discharged their weapon.
During that encounter, police said, Rivera was shot in the chest. She was rushed to a local hospital where she died of her injuries.
“This is the risk our officers take every single day,” Snelling said.
The initial suspect and the person who allegedly pointed the rifle at police fled on foot but were later arrested, Snelling said. A second officer sustained an injury to their wrist and was hospitalized in fair condition.
Police said three firearms were recovered at the scene. Snelling said an investigation is underway to determine what exactly occurred inside the apartment.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is also investigating the incident.
“Tonight the entire city of Chicago is grieving and mourning together over this tragic loss of one of Chicago’s finest,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “Her young, energetic and bold approach toward keeping us safe is the memory we will honor.”
