A Chicago police officer was accidentally shot and killed by her partner during a tactical operation, officials confirmed Friday.
Officer Krystal Rivera, 36, was accidentally shot and killed by her partner during a tactical operation, officials confirmed Friday. She was struck by gunfire after chasing a suspect into an apartment where they encountered another person with a rifle. Rivera, a four-year veteran and mother of a 10-year-old, died less than an hour later at a hospital.
Her partner was the only officer who fired, and the bullet struck Rivera in the back, according to an autopsy. Police said the person wielding the rifle was arrested, though charges were not immediately disclosed.
Superintendent Larry Snelling described Rivera as “young, vibrant and a hard worker.” She had expressed her dedication to policing in a 2021 interview: “For me, it’s a privilege… To help people in need, that’s my calling.”
The squad car initially used to transport Rivera malfunctioned, crashed, and caught fire, prompting a transfer to another vehicle. Three weapons were recovered from the scene.
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