Family of Chicago cop files wrongful death suit after she was shot by partner
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The family of a Chicago Police officer who was fatally shot by his partner during a pursuit earlier this year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming the department ignored clear warning signs that the officer posed a threat to him.
The lawsuit filed by Officer Krystal Rivera’s mother alleges that the Chicago Police Department knew Officer Carlos Baker had a history of reckless behavior and violent misconduct but continued to assign him to work alongside Rivera. Rivera, 36, was shot and killed June 5 while trying to apprehend a dual-armed suspect.
Rivera had repeatedly expressed concerns to supervisors about Baker’s behavior and ended a two-year, on-and-off romantic relationship with him shortly before the shooting, according to the complaint. The lawsuit states that the department was aware of numerous complaints against Baker; including an allegation that an ex-girlfriend accused him of threatening her with a gun at a bar.
Rivera’s mother, Yolanda, said her daughter should never be afraid of the person assigned to watch her back. “Krystal understood the dangers of this job. She accepted the risk that came with policing. What she should never have feared was her own partner,” he said. “This betrayal cost Krystal her life.”
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Krystal Rivera, 36, was shot by fellow officer Carlos Baker while trying to apprehend an armed suspect on June 5. (AP)
The lawsuit alleges Rivera and Baker pulled over a driver suspected of carrying a gun, leading to a foot chase that ended in front of an apartment building. Baker kicked in the door and fired his gun at the suspect, but struck Rivera in the back instead.
Family attorney Antonio Romanucci said Baker fled to another floor rather than calling for help or providing first aid.
“He didn’t even try the most basic first aid step, like applying pressure to her wound… Baker literally left Krystal on the floor, breathless. Krystal carried out her own attack over the radio,” Romanucci said.
The lawsuit also accuses the department of submitting misleading reports to state regulators that suggested the shooting came from a barricaded suspect rather than Baker.
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Baker had 11 misconduct complaints in three years, placing him in a small percentage of officers with the worst disciplinary records, Romanucci said. In a 2022 incident, Baker allegedly pointed a gun at his ex-girlfriend in a tavern. This case has been reviewed by the Civilian Office for Police Accountability and a formal decision has not yet been made.
Krystal Rivera told supervisors that she feared for her safety as Carlos Baker’s partner and ended a two-year, on-and-off romantic relationship with him shortly before the shooting. (Chicago Police Department)
Rivera joined CPD in 2021 and was paired with Baker in early 2023. The two began a romantic relationship that summer, but Rivera later sought a new partner due to what the lawsuit describes as Baker’s “previous reckless behavior.” Although the request was granted, the two were reassigned together last year after Rivera was transferred to the tactical team.
According to the complaint, Rivera ended the relationship for good last winter after learning Baker had a girlfriend who lived in the same house. She told colleagues she feared Baker’s “negative and hostile reaction” and said he continued to show up at her home uninvited until June 4, the day before the shooting.
The lawsuit alleges the police department knew Carlos Baker was careless and posed a threat. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Romanucci argued that Baker should never have remained in uniform. “He should never have passed his probationary period. He was unfit to police our communities, let alone legally carry a gun,” he said. “CPD’s decision to keep Carlos Baker on the job wasn’t expensive. It was deadly.”
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The Cook County State’s Attorney had previously declined to file charges against Baker, but Rivera’s family hopes new information revealed during the case will prompt prosecutors to reconsider.
Rivera, described by colleagues as a dedicated mentor and rising officer, was in his fourth year with the department.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
