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Krystal Rivera

Gender : Female

Age : 36

Race : Latinx

Date : 06/05/2025

Location : Not Disclosed

City : Chicago

County : Cook

State : Illinois

Agency : Chicago Police Department

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Officer killed by gunfire during foot pursuit

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

Officer Krystal Rivera, a 36-year-old mother and four-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, was fatally shot on June 5, 2025, during a foot pursuit in a residential area. While attempting to stop a person, the man ran into a building. Officers followed and encountered armed individuals. During the confrontation, Rivera was shot and later died at the hospital. Her partner Carlos A. Baker claims that he tripped and his gun accidentally discharged which hit her in the back and killed her. She was initially transported by squad car, but the vehicle crashed and caught fire. She was transferred to another vehicle and taken to the hospital, where she died less than an hour after being shot. Police have described the car fire as due to a mechanical issue/malfunction. No further technical cause has been made public. Chicago Police have not publicly provided a specific reason beyond “fellow officers rushed her.” Cook County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide. One detail prosecutors put on the record: Rivera’s partner lost his footing, and his weapon accidentally discharged. Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating. Rivera’s mother and the family’s attorney, Antonio Romanucci, are publicly questioning CPD’s narrative, saying it doesn’t “pass the smell test,” and are demanding release of all body- and dash-cam along with an independent (Illinois State Police) investigation. A judge has temporarily blocked public release of some video and records while related criminal cases proceed.
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Officer Carlos Baker is in the news weeks later for a new incident. Allegations: A 29-year-old off-duty female CPD officer says she was waiting for a rideshare when a man and a woman approached, demanded she delete “videos” she had taken in the bar, and then beat her in the face. She needed stitches for a split lip. The police report identifies the man as Officer Carlos Baker who shot Rivera. COPA is investigating. According to the victim’s statement in the police report, no — he didn’t know she was a Chicago police officer.
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Officer Baker has more than a dozen misconduct complaints on his record including at least 3 past suspensions and 2 reprimands which are detailed in the enclosed link. Despite this history, he had been assigned to an aggressive tactical team. Officer Baker is on paid leave and not in custody.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2025/06/05/chicago-police-officer-fatally-shot-west-side
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/cpd-officer-shot-humboldt-park/3450292/
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-police-officer-shot-killed-humboldt-park/
https://www.wbez.org/stories/chicago-police-officer-killed-in-humboldt-park-identified/
https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2025/08/13/chicago-police-crime-cpd-attack-krystal-rivera-carlos-baker-wicker-park-shooting
Officer Baker's misconduct history detailed here:
https://illinoisanswers.org/2025/06/27/chicago-cop-inadvertently-killed-partner-has-lengthy-disciplinary-record/