Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera was fatally shot by her partner during a tactical operation Thursday night in the city’s Chatham neighborhood, authorities confirmed Friday. The 36-year-old four-year veteran was struck by friendly fire while pursuing an armed suspect into an apartment building.
The incident occurred around 9:50 p.m. on June 5 when officers from the Gresham District tactical team attempted to stop a suspected armed individual in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue. Police reported the suspect fled into a nearby building, prompting Rivera and her partner to pursue on foot.
Inside the apartment building, officers encountered another person armed with a rifle who pointed the weapon at them. During the confrontation, Rivera’s partner discharged his weapon, with the gunfire unintentionally striking Rivera in the back. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide and determined she died from the gunshot wound to her back at 10:19 p.m.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling confirmed that only one officer fired during the incident. Snelling indicated the investigation revealed “the only weapon discharged during this incident was the weapon of the officer, whose gunfire unintentionally struck Officer Rivera.”
Following the shooting, Rivera was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center in a squad car that subsequently crashed and caught fire due to a mechanical malfunction. Assisting officers transferred her to another vehicle to complete the journey to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. A second officer sustained a wrist injury during the incident and was hospitalized in fair condition.
Three firearms were recovered at the scene, and several individuals were taken into custody. The suspect who aimed the rifle at officers remains in police custody while authorities continue investigating the circumstances that led to the initial stop. The person officers originally pursued also fled the apartment but was later apprehended.
Rivera, who lived in Chicago’s Irving Park neighborhood, leaves behind a 10-year-old daughter, Bella Medina. Family members described how Rivera had hugged her daughter tighter than usual when leaving for work Thursday, with Bella later recounting that her mother seemed to have a premonition about the danger ahead. The child’s 11th birthday party had been scheduled for the weekend following Rivera’s death.
Colleagues and supervisors remembered Rivera as a dedicated officer who had processed two firearms earlier on the day she died. Commander Mike Tate described her as one of the finest members of the tactical team. Pastor Daniel Cruz from Faithworld Church, where Rivera had attended services for nearly 20 years, recalled her dedication to her faith and desire for her daughter to embrace their religious beliefs.
Superintendent Snelling addressed the emotional toll on the officer who fired the fatal shot, describing him as being “in a very, very tough place” and calling it “unimaginable what that officer has to be feeling right now.” The department issued a statement requesting prayers for both Rivera’s family and her partner as he faces the loss of his fellow officer.
Mayor Brandon Johnson spoke at a press conference, emphasizing Rivera’s honorable and courageous service to the city. He called on Chicago residents to keep Rivera’s family and the entire police department in their prayers while honoring her memory and sacrifice.
The tragedy marks Rivera as the fifth Chicago police officer shot and killed since 2023, and the second officer from the 6th District killed in the line of duty within the past year. According to The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, fewer than 3% of the 273 firearms-related officer deaths between 2020 and 2024 were categorized as inadvertent or accidental shootings.
Rivera had joined the force in October 2021 after graduating from the police academy. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times following her graduation, she expressed her calling to serve others and described policing as a privilege. Family members indicated she had dreamed of becoming a police officer since her teenage years.
The Chicago Police Department’s Investigative Response Team is handling the investigation, and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability has been notified of the shooting. Superintendent Snelling indicated the department would review its practices, including training and supervision, once all information has been gathered, though he noted it was too early to determine if policy changes would result from the incident.
A procession of Chicago police vehicles with blue lights accompanied Rivera’s body from the hospital to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, where officers were observed comforting one another during the difficult time. The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation announced it would provide emotional and financial support to Rivera’s family in the coming days.
