Off-Duty Chicago Cop Killed In Apparent Unprovoked Attack: Police

CHICAGO, IL — An off-duty Chicago police officer was shot and killed early Saturday morning as he sat in a car with friends after leaving a night club in River North, according to police. A second man who was also in the car was critically wounded, according to a news report.

"Right now I'm disgusted by frankly, what we know about this incident so far is just, is really disgusting," Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said at a press conference Saturday afternoon. "From all accounts and information that we have thus far, this appears to be an unprovoked attack against a group of individuals who went out to unwind on a Friday night."

The officer was shot around 3:30 a.m. in the 700 block of North Clark Street in River North. He was taken to Northwestern Hospital where he died from his injuries, police said.

The officer killed in the shooting was identified as 23-year-old John Rivera, who had been with the department for two years. Johnson said that as a young cop he patrolled in the area where Rivera served and Johnson's son also serves in the same area.

The Chicago Tribune reports that the off-duty cop and the second man were sitting in a car when two men walked up to the car and began firing inside. The two men are said to have fled on foot, according to the Tribune. In all, four people were sitting in the car, including Rivera and a second off-duty officer who was not injured in the shooting.

Johnson said officers have very good video of the attack and detectives are working to trace the movement of the shooters.

"Mark my words," said Johnson. "We will find them."

At least one person of interest was being questioned and police are looking for two more people, according to Johnson.

Police have found no evidence of an encounter between Rivera's group and the men who attacked.

Johnson said that the shooting appears to be random in nature but cautioned that could change.