In the heart of Chicago, a poignant and tragic event unfolded, drawing attention once more to the inherent dangers of police work. The ABC7 I-Team has scrutinized video footage that captures the moments leading up to the accidental and fatal shooting of Officer Krystal Rivera by her partner, Officer Carlos Baker.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability released the gripping footage last Friday, shedding light on the unfortunate incident that occurred last June. The video chronicles the intense pursuit by Officers Rivera and Baker of a suspect they believed to be armed, culminating in the accidental discharge of Baker’s weapon, which fatally wounded Rivera.
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The incident took place on a summer evening, June 5, 2025, around 9:50 p.m., in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood. The footage, captured by Baker’s body-worn camera, paints a vivid picture of the officers’ approach to an apartment building located in the 8200-block of South Drexel Avenue.
As the officers approached, they instructed a man to show his hands, suspecting he might be armed. The man then entered an apartment, prompting the officers to give chase. It was in the narrow confines of the hallway that the tragic accident occurred, with Rivera positioned directly behind Baker.
This devastating event highlights the split-second decisions police officers must make and the potential consequences that can follow. The release of the video serves as a sobering reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face daily in the line of duty.
Rivera was directly behind Baker in the narrow hallway.
Baker kicked down the door as the suspect flipped over the couch before another man, seen in surveillance video released by COPA, exited a room with a long gun in hand.
Baker appeared to react, turning and firing one shot.
Rivera then fell to the ground. Baker ascended the stairs, calling in shots fired and asking for an ambulance.
About two minutes later, Baker can be seen going to check on his partner before additional units arrived to transport her.
A video was released four months after Krystal Rivera’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Baker and CPD, citing a volatile history between the two who had been romantically involved. Rivera had requested a new partner after they broke up.
Baker has been at the center of multiple investigations by the Chicago Police Department and has been relieved of police powers. The I-Team previously reported Baker also faced three suspensions and two reprimands in just four years with the department.
There were 11 seconds between Baker and Rivera entering the building before she was shot. Police have said since the beginning Officer Baker unintentionally shot Officer Rivera.
Attorneys representing the Rivera family released a lengthy statement, saying they plan to conduct a full forensic video audit and analysis. That statement also says in part: “The edited video clips released by COPA today regarding the death of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera raise a number of serious questions. The first and foremost being that this is NOT all of the body-worn video footage from the event. What has been released is a curated narrative meant to invent a false truth. All body worn footage is essential to the public understanding the full scope of this tragedy.”
The ABC7 I-Team has reached out to COPA for a response to that statement. The I-Team has also reached out to attorneys for Officer Baker, but have not heard back.
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