CHICAGO (WGN) — A four-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department who Mayor Brandon Johnson said served “honorably and courageously” was killed after gunfire erupted during a call on the city’s South Side Thursday night.

“Our officer was young, vibrant and a hard worker,” police Supt. Larry Snelling said during a morning press conference outside University of Chicago Medical Center, where the officer, later identified as 36-year-old Krystal Rivera, passed away.

Snelling said Rivera, who worked out of the department’s 6th District, was a mother to a “very young daughter.”

Authorities say the deadly shooting unfolded shortly before 10 p.m. as officers pursued a suspect who allegedly fled from a nearby investigatory stop into an apartment near East 82nd Street and South Drexel Avenue.

Snelling said the responding officers were confronted by a second individual who pointed a rifle at them. Gunfire erupted and Rivera was struck.

Officers on the scene attempted to take Rivera, who was in critical condition, to a nearby hospital, but Snelling said the police cruiser had a “malfunction” and caught fire. Rivera was moved to a second cruiser for transport to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. It is unclear what caused the first cruiser to malfunction.

A second officer involved in the incident suffered an injury to their wrist and was taken to the hospital in fair condition.

Two people arrested

Snelling said two individuals in the apartment fled after the shooting but were later apprehended by assisting units. He also said several persons of interest were taken into custody, including someone who they believe was on the scene when the armed individual confronted the officers.

CPD later recovered three weapons from the scene.

Snelling praises ‘young and vibrant’ Rivera

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the fallen officer as 36-year-old Krystal Rivera.

“Our officer was young, vibrant and a hard worker,” Snelling said. “Prior to going out and attempting to make that stop, she had already processed two other guns working that day.

According to Snelling, Rivera was a mother with a daughter and had been serving on the force for four years.

“She was a working police officer trying to keep the streets safe and she did great work and if you talk to anyone on her team, they would tell you how great of a worker she was,” Snelling said.

Snelling described her as someone who was known among her peers for her work ethic.

“I want everyone to keep this officer’s family in your prayers and understand the risk she took every day when she came out to do her job,” Snelling said. “With no regard and understanding that it’s always possible when you’re doing this type of work that you may not return home.”

 

 

Following Friday’s early-morning press conference, firefighters and police officers lined up to pay their respects as a procession carried the fallen officer’s remains.

‘We mourn the tragic loss’

Officials from the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and Chicago Fire Department issued statements regarding the shooting on Friday morning.

“We mourn the tragic loss of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera. Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Rivera’s loved ones and her colleagues at the Chicago Police Department,” a spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post on Friday morning.

“The Chicago Fire Department grieves alongside our brothers and sisters at CPD for the loss of officer Krystal Rivera who died in the line of duty Thursday evening. Please keep her family and CPD in your thoughts and prayers,” a spokesperson for the Chicago Fire Department said in a post on X.

An investigation into the deadly shooting is now underway by Chicago’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA), as well as CPD’s Investigative Response Team.

Those with information on the shooting can contact COPA on their website or by calling 312-746-3609.

CPD’s full press conference, featuring Supt. Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson, can be viewed in the video above.