Chicago Police Officer Shot and Killed in Chatham

Chicago police officer shot and killed in Chatham ‘was a hero,’ top cop says

Krystal Rivera, a Gresham District tactical officer, was shot and killed after chasing someone into an apartment building in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue, police said. Officers rushing her to a hospital crashed, and their car caught fire.

By  Tom Schuba, Kade Heather and David Struett

Updated Jun 6, 2025, 12:47pm EDT

A “young, vibrant” Chicago police officer was shot and killed during a foot chase Thursday night in Chatham on the South Side, the city’s top cop said.

Krystal Rivera, 36, “was a hero, and she lost her life tragically,” Police Supt. Larry Snelling told reporters outside University of Chicago Medical Center, where she died. Snelling said Rivera had a “very young daughter.”

Rivera, a four-year police veteran assigned to the Gresham District tactical team, was patrolling around 9:50 p.m. when she and other officers tried to stop a person they thought was armed in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue, Snelling said.

The person ran into a nearby apartment building and officers gave chase, Snelling said. Once inside, the officers were confronted by another person who was armed with a rifle, and an officer opened fire.

“Shots fired at police,” an officer screamed over the radio while calling for assistance.

Rivera suffered a gunshot wound, according to Snelling. Law enforcement sources said she was shot in the chest.

Two people fled from the apartment and were soon taken into custody, Snelling said. Three guns were found at the scene, according to police.

“We have several individuals in custody, but one in particular who we believe was on the scene when the officers were confronted with the armed individual,” Snelling said.

Officers attempting to rush Rivera for treatment crashed, and their car caught fire, Snelling said.

“There was some type of malfunction in that vehicle that caught fire,” he said. “But assisting officers came in and she was transferred to another vehicle and then driven to the hospital.”

Rivera was was pronounced dead at 10:19 p.m. at University of Chicago Medical Center, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. Another officer sustained a wrist injury and was taken to the hospital in fair condition.

Snelling said Rivera “was a working police officer trying to keep the streets safe,” noting that she had “already processed two other guns working that day.”

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

Speaking alongside Snelling, Mayor Brandon Johnson said Rivera’s “young, energetic and bold approach towards keeping us safe is the memory that we will honor.”

“The entire city of Chicago is grieving and mourning together over this tragic loss of one of Chicago’s finest,” the mayor said. “This young woman served honorably and courageously.”

On Friday morning, a few officers were walking in and out of three-story courtyard apartment building where the shooting happened. One officer carried a paper bag from the building to a squad car on the street.

When Rivera graduated from the police academy in 2021, she told the Sun-Times that she always wanted to be a a police officer.

“For me, it’s a privilege,” she said then. “I come from a family of serving. To help people in need, that’s my calling.”

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