A 36-year-old police officer who is a mother to a young daughter and a four-year member of the Chicago Police Department was shot and murdered while on duty in Chicago, according to police.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker identified her as Krystal Rivera.
“There’s no higher calling than the work to keep Illinoisans safe — and Krystal lived that value day in and day out,” he said on social media. “I offer my sympathies to her family and loved ones. “May her memory be a blessing.”
According to the Chicago Police Department, the incident occurred around 9:50 p.m. Thursday while officers sought to execute an investigative stop on a male suspect.
Officers approached the man, but he escaped on foot into a nearby building, police said.
Law enforcement then pursued the suspect into the building, but were met by another armed people inside the apartment where the suspect fled, authorities said.
“The armed offender fled the residence and was taken into custody,” authorities said. “An officer sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to an area hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.”
According to Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling, “She tragically lost her life doing the job that she loved.”
“That was one of the things that her mother said, she loved her job and the way that she worked, it was evident that she did love her job and she wanted to make Chicago a better place,” Snelling told the media during a news conference.
Mayor Brandon Johnson stated that the entire city is mourning her passing.
“This young woman served with honour and courage. Mayor Johnson urged the whole city of Chicago to pray for this officer’s family as well as our entire police department. “Her young, energetic bold approach towards keeping us safe is the memory that we will honour.”
According to authorities, an other officer had a wrist injury and was transported to the hospital in fair condition, but no other injuries were reported.
According to authorities, three guns were discovered on the site, and many people were taken into custody.
Between January 1 and April 30, 16 police officers in the United States were feloniously slain in the line of duty, with weapons used in 75% of those occurrences, according to figures provided by the United States Department of Justice.
According to the Justice Department, the major causes of officers’ deaths were responses to unlawful or suspicious activity, pursuits, and traffic stops.
Accidental law enforcement deaths, on the other hand, have fallen by 68.2% between the first four months of 2024 (22 deaths) and 2025 (seven deaths), with motor vehicle crashes and officers struck by vehicles being the major causes of accidental death in 2025.