Officer Killed While Pursuing Suspect Who Was Fleeing 'Investigatory' Stop: Police

CHICAGO — A Chicago police officer was fatally shot late Thursday evening on the South Side while trying to conduct an interview with a person they believed was armed, CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling said.

The slain officer was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner as Krystal Rivera, a who was described as “young, vibrant and a hard worker.” Rivera was the mother of a young child.

“Our officer we lost tonight, this happens far too often,” Snelling said during an overnight press conference. “She was a young officer with four years on the job. She was working extremely hard in the 6th District to get guns off the street to save lives.”

Around 9:50 p.m. in the 8200 of South Drexel Avenue in the Chatham neighborhood, Rivera and another officer were assigned to the 6th (Gresham) District Tactical Team when they spotted a male suspect who they believed was armed, according to a preliminary police statement.

The officers pursued the suspect into an apartment building, where they were confronted by the suspect inside the residence. A second person in the apartment was armed with a rifle and pointed it at the officers, Snelling said in an overnight news conference.

The officers opened fire and during the commotion, Officer Rivera was shot, along with another officer who was shot in the wrist. Both suspects fled the apartment, and were later apprehended outside.

Rivera, who was gravely wounded, was transported from the scene in a police vehicle, but on the way to the hospital, a malfunction occurred and the vehicle caught fire, according to Snelling. She was transferred to another police vehicle, and was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at 10:19 p.m.

Earlier in her shift, Snelling said Officer Rivera had already taken two guns off the street.

“She was a working police officer trying to keep the streets safe,” the police superintendent said. “She did great work, and you talk to anyone on her team, they will tell you how great of a worker she was. This is a risk our officers take every single day.”

Snelling said “several suspects” are in custody, but police are interested in one suspect in particular.

Three loaded firearms were found in the apartment, which has since been taped off. Snelling said police were waiting for a search warrant to process the apartment.

~ This is a developing story. Check back for updates.