Chicago police officer killed in Chatham shooting ID'd as Krystal Rivera, suspects arrested
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A Chicago police officer was killed in a shooting in the city's Chatham neighborhood Thursday night.
According to the Chicago Police Department, officers were on patrol and attempted to conduct an investigatory stop just before 10 p.m. in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue.
Police said that as the officers approached, the suspect fled on foot into a nearby apartment and officers followed.
Once inside the residence, police said they were confronted by a second person pointing a rifle at them. Police said an officer then fired a shot.
Police said that during the encounter, an officer from the 6th District was shot. Fellow officers rushed her to the hospital, but on the way, the vehicle caught fire due to a mechanical issue. She was moved to another vehicle and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she died.
The Cook County Medical Examiner identified the officer as 36-year-old Krystal Rivera.
A procession escorted Rivera's body to the medical examiner's office.
CPD confirmed Rivera was a mother and a four-year veteran of the police force. Supt. Larry Snelling described her as vibrant and fearless. He said she showed up every day, hardworking, bold, and dedicated to protecting others.
"For a mother to lose her daughter like that, knowing that she was trying to do the right thing every single day," Snelling said. "That she was protecting lives. That she was a hero and she lost her life tragically doing that job that she loved."
Another officer injured their wrist and was taken to a local hospital in fair condition.
Chicago police said several people are in custody, including one person believed to be inside the apartment with the rifle.
Police said they are still waiting to get a search warrant to collect more evidence from inside the apartment. CPD said three guns were recovered from the scene.
The Chicago Office of Police Accountability was notified of the shooting, police said.
A flag has been raised outside of the 6th District Police Department in Rivera's honor, and bunting was being hung around noon Friday.
Street pastor Donovan Price offered prayers for the officers who arrived for roll call before their morning shift.
"With these officers, a lot of them are young, and so you can look in their eyes and see that it could've almost been them," Price said. "They think of what they would do in this situation, and it's just sad."
Second loss in months for CPD 6th District
This is the second 6th District officer killed in months in the Chatham neighborhood.
In November of 2024, officer Enrique Martinez, 26, was shot and killed during a traffic stop near 80th and Ingleside.
He was a member of the department for almost 3 years.
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation added Martinez to the wall at Gold Star Families Memorial in April.
