Slain Chicago police Ofc. Krystal Rivera’s family questions ‘accidental’ shooting

Fallen officer Krystal Rivera's family calls for transparency

The attorneys are raising questions about her partner.

CHICAGO - Attorneys representing the family of Krystal Rivera, the Chicago police officer shot and killed by her partner during a chase last month, are questioning the official narrative that it was an accidental shooting.

The Chicago law firm Romanucci & Blandin on Wednesday said the family is calling for a civil investigation into the shooting, including the release of all video of the shooting and of Rivera's partner's disciplinary records.

Family questions police narrative

What we know:

Rivera, 36, died on June 5 after she was accidentally shot by her partner during a confrontation with an armed suspect in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue on the city's South Side, according to police.

Police said she and her partner were pursuing a man who ran into a building in the Chatham neighborhood when they encountered Adrian Rucker, who pointed a gun at them. 

Her partner fired and unintentionally struck Rivera in the back, according to Chicago police.

Chicago law firm Romanucci & Blandin, LLC plans to announce a civil investigation into the accidental shooting death of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera by her partner. (Romanucci & Blandin, LLC)

But attorney Antonio Romanucci, who represents Rivera's family, said the official police narrative of the shooting doesn't "pass the smell test."

"We don’t yet trust the narrative that Officer Rivera was shot and killed by her partner during a pursuit of suspects who never fired a shot," Romanucci said. "We need a lot of answers."

Romanucci said it was his understanding that the suspects being pursued by Rivera and her partner were in front of the shooting officer, or "at best" on the side of him. He said they believe that Rivera was behind her partner.

Romanucci added that the family asked in a letter to CPD Supt. Larry Snelling on June 27 that the department release all the body camera footage of the shooting, Rivera's partner's disciplinary records and to answer questions from the news media about the shooting.

He said they received no response from Snelling.

Now, the family wants an outside agency like the Illinois State Police to investigate the shooting.

"I'm asking for complete transparency," said Yolanda Rivera, Krystal's mother, on Wednesday. "I need to understand what happened that night. I need to know the truth."

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating the shooting. A spokesperson said COPA is "conducting a thorough investigation into the incident" and added that anytime an officer fires their gun, they notify the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and "did so in this incident."

Rivera, who served as an officer for four years, was remembered as a hard-working team member and mentor to younger officers. She left behind a 10-year-old daughter.

Two men were charged in connection with the incident. Rucker faces charges including armed violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of fraudulent identification, and drug possession. A second man, Jaylin Arnold, was later charged with armed violence, three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, and drug possession.

Partner's record:

The family's attorney also cited published reports detailing Rivera's partner's disciplinary record, which includes more than a dozen misconduct complaints, two reprimands, and three suspensions.

Her partner also allegedly flashed a gun at a woman while he was off-duty in 2022, just months after joining the department, according to Romanucci.

The officer, who is on routine administrative leave for 30 days after the shooting, has been a member of CPD since 2021.

What we don't know:

It is unclear if the civil investigation will lead to a lawsuit being filed, but Romannuci said the family is exploring all "civil avenues of justice."

Watch the full press conference by attorneys representing Krystal Rivera's family here.

Slain Chicago police Ofc. Krystal Rivera’s family questions narrative of ‘accidental’ shooting

Chicago law firm Romanucci & Blandin, LLC plans to announce a civil investigation into the accidental shooting death of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera by her partner.