The recent shooting incident involving Chicago police Officer Krystal Rivera, who was fatally shot by her partner, Carlos Baker, has prompted significant scrutiny and calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Attorney Antonio Romanucci, representing Rivera’s family, voiced strong concerns on Wednesday, stating that Baker should not have been a police officer given a serious complaint made against him during his probationary period.
Romanucci emphasized the belief that the tragic death of Rivera “should have never happened.”
In a news conference, Romanucci challenged the official narrative presented by the Chicago Police Department (CPD), asserting that it “does not pass the smell test.”
He urged the department to release Baker’s full disciplinary record as well as the police bodycam footage from the incident, citing a need for transparency and answers.
“We have many questions that need to be answered,” Romanucci stated.
The family, still grappling with the shock of Rivera’s death, feels an urgent need for clarity regarding the circumstances of the tragic event.
Additionally, Romanucci wrote to police Superintendent Larry Snelling requesting that the Illinois State Police carry out an independent criminal investigation into the shooting incident and release all video, audio, and other relevant evidence.
As of now, Snelling has not responded to Romanucci’s letter, and a spokesperson for the Illinois State Police has stated that the CPD has not made a request for an investigation.
Currently, the city’s Civilian Office of Police Accountability is looking into the shooting; however, it is not being treated as a criminal matter.
“Please share and explain what happened here fully in the same way you would have had she been shot and killed by someone not wearing a CPD uniform,” Romanucci implored in his correspondence to Snelling.
Authorities claimed that Rivera was accidentally shot during a pursuit of a man believed to be armed, and that Baker unintentionally shot her as they confronted another suspect.
Rivera’s mother, Yolanda Rivera, has expressed her need to understand exactly what took place during the fateful night, highlighting her daughter’s dedication to her role in law enforcement.
“I need to know the truth. Krystal believed in protecting and serving with honor … Let this moment be guided by truth,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Romanucci has pointed out Baker’s extensive history of disciplinary actions and contends that he should have been terminated during his probationary period.
Reports from the Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Sun-Times revealed that Baker faced over a dozen complaints during his brief tenure on the police force, which included three suspensions and two reprimands.
According to data collected by the Invisible Institute, only 5% of Chicago police officers had six or more misconduct complaints from 2018 through 2023.
At the time of Rivera’s shooting, Baker had served as a police officer for approximately three and a half years.
Romanucci specifically highlighted a complaint from December 2022, in which a woman accused Baker of brandishing a firearm at her during a confrontation at a North Side bar.
The woman, familiar with Baker from an Instagram interaction, did not cooperate with the investigation conducted by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, resulting in no disciplinary action against Baker.
Romanucci stated, “Those aren’t even warning signs…Those are just career-killers.”
The allegation of the gun-waving incident, which occurred during Baker’s probationary period, could have been grounds for termination, as he would have lacked significant union protections at that time.
“We believe the warning signs were there for years,” said Romanucci.
Had Baker not been on duty that night, the attorney asserted, Rivera would likely still be alive today.
Further questioning arose regarding why Baker did not undergo a criminal investigation following the gun-flashing complaint, as such incidents generally lead to termination for probationary officers.
Romanucci also inquired whether authorities had taken statements from the individual the woman was with during the alleged gun incident.
The police have declined to comment on inquiries related to any investigations into the allegations.
A spokesperson for the CPD stated on Wednesday that the officer involved would remain on routine administrative duties.
Currently, the internal investigation memo related to the gun-waving incident indicates that “should other information become available, or the complainant decides to cooperate later, COPA may reopen the investigation.”
Typically, COPA is obliged to release records within 60 days following an incident involving an officer-involved shooting.
However, due to a court order obtained by prosecutors after one of the suspects from the apartment incident was charged with armed violence, the release of records has been delayed, preventing access to key evidence and Baker’s disciplinary history.
A spokesperson for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office described any attempts to alter the court order unilaterally as “inappropriate.”
As the police continue to cite the court order in declining requests for various records unrelated to the shooting or criminal cases, including details on Baker’s disciplinary history, calls for transparency grow louder.
Tim Grace, Baker’s attorney, characterized the incident as a “tragic accident,” asserting that Baker’s disciplinary record is “very minor” when compared to that of other officers with a similar length of service assigned to high-crime areas.
“There is no indication that Officer Baker is under any criminal investigation, and I see no reason to believe that would change,” Grace stated, while opting not to comment further on the details shared during the news conference.
Approximately 18 months prior to Rivera’s death, Rivera was involved in a gun buyback initiative at St. Sabina Church, linked to her district’s tactical unit.
A gun from this event was later reported missing from the district tactical office during an inventory check.
Rivera played an active role in the investigation surrounding the missing gun, searching through her colleagues’ belongings for it.
Investigators later found the firearm associated with several shootings on 79th Street, ultimately recovered from a 16-year-old boy.
After media inquiries regarding the incident, the police department reopened its internal investigation concerning the stolen gun.
Romanucci stressed the importance of uncovering all facts surrounding Rivera’s death, acknowledging the complexity of the situation and the multitude of factors involved.
“…There’s not just one piece to this puzzle here. There are so many pieces here, and we’ve got to start fitting them together,” he concluded.
As the family and attorney continue to seek clarity and accountability, the community remains anxious for the release of the full truth surrounding Officer Krystal Rivera’s tragic death.
image source from：chicago
