Police Officer Fatally Shot by Fellow Officer in the Back During Pursuit in Chatham

A Chicago police officer was “accidentally” shot and killed by a fellow officer while responding to a call on the city’s South Side, officials confirmed Friday evening.

Officer Krystal Rivera, assigned to a tactical team, was part of a unit conducting patrols in the Chatham neighborhood Thursday night when officers attempted an investigatory stop around 10 p.m. near the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue. As officers approached, a suspect fled into a nearby apartment building, prompting Rivera and her partner to pursue.

Sources familiar with the investigation said the officers followed the suspect into an apartment on the second floor. Inside, they encountered a second individual who reportedly pointed a rifle at them.

“At some point during the encounter, one officer discharged their weapon,” said Superintendent Larry Snelling.

The gunfire struck Officer Rivera, who was later confirmed to be the only person injured during the incident. Police later clarified that Rivera was unintentionally shot by her partner, who was the only officer to fire a weapon at the scene.

Several individuals were detained in the aftermath, including the person believed to have displayed the rifle. No criminal charges have been announced, and the investigation remains active.

As fellow officers rushed Rivera to the hospital, their vehicle caught fire due to a mechanical failure. She was transferred to a second police vehicle and transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

“There was a malfunction with the first vehicle, but backup officers quickly intervened,” said Snelling.

An autopsy performed by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office determined Rivera suffered a gunshot wound to the back.

In a statement issued Friday night, the Chicago Police Department expressed deep sorrow over Rivera’s death, calling for public support for her family and for her partner, who is now grappling with the loss.

“We ask Chicagoans to pray for Officer Rivera’s loved ones and for her partner, who now bears the burden of this tragic incident. Officer Rivera’s death is a heavy blow to our department, and we will honor her service as we continue our duty to the city,” the statement read.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating the shooting. Former Police Board President Ghian Foreman said the agency will seek to obtain all available evidence, including body camera footage, to understand how the situation unfolded.

“Did the officers announce their presence? Was body cam activated? These details matter,” Foreman said. “Key footage could clarify whether the suspect was armed or posed an immediate threat when officers entered the apartment.”

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The review of body camera footage is expected to play a critical role in determining the exact sequence of events that led to Officer Rivera’s death.

Investigators will be looking closely to assess whether the officers followed proper procedures and whether the shooting was a tragic mistake or if any troubling discrepancies emerge. As scrutiny intensifies, the footage may help clarify whether everything unfolded as reported—or if deeper questions remain unanswered.

The outcome of COPA’s investigation may hinge on such evidence, which remains under review.