For Ariana Vilcins, to know Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera was a “privilege.”
Vilcins, who taught Rivera’s daughter, described Rivera as a devoted and kind mother — qualities she sees reflected in 11-year-old Bella.
“Krystal was 100% devoted to her child and wanted her daughter to have the best education, the best life and the most love that she could possibly have,” Vilcins said. “Bella is a cheerful, loving little girl, and it’s a result of the way she brought up her daughter.”
Vilcins is one of many guests who stopped by Tuesday afternoon to pay their respects at Rivera’s visitation.
The line to get into Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home, 6901 W. Belmont Ave., stretched down the street before the visitation began at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
Uniformed officers from Rockford, Hanover Park, Bloomingdale and Milwaukee were among the many who came to pay their respects.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Police Supt. Larry Snelling arrived about 7 p.m. through a side entrance.
Blue ribbons symbolizing the police fraternity were tied around fences, bushes and columns outside the funeral home, and a massive American flag flew over Belmont Avenue from an outstretched ladder of a Chicago Fire Department truck.
Rivera, who was assigned to the Gresham District tactical team, was shot by her partner about 9:50 p.m. June 5 while chasing an armed person, identified as Jaylin Arnold, into an apartment building in the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue, Chicago police said. Once inside, they encountered another suspect, identified as Adrian Rucker, who was armed with an AR-style rifle.
Rucker pointed the gun at the officers, and Arnold jumped over a couch and ran out of the one-room apartment, officials said. Rivera chased Arnold down a hallway and was then unintentionally shot in the back by her partner.
Arnold and Rucker have been charged in connection with Rivera’s death.
Arnold and Rucker are both felons with long criminal records, court records show. Arnold was most recently convicted of being a felon in possession of a gun in March 2023 and was sentenced to seven years in prison. He has been sentenced to prison in at least two other gun cases.
Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara called Rivera’s death “unique,” noting it was the first time in more than four decades that a Chicago officer was killed by “friendly fire.”
Catanzara said Rivera’s family was still coming to terms with her death, but despite the long road ahead, he said the family would always have the support of the rank and file.
“The bogeyman, so to speak, is one of our own in their minds, that’s kind of a hard pill to swallow for anyone,” he said. “I don’t even know how to describe it. I’m usually not at a loss for words, but this situation has definitely had me searching for the right words.”
Rivera had always dreamed of becoming a police officer and her dream came true in 2021 when she joined the department. But she was also more than just a police officer — Rivera was a daughter, a sister, and most importantly a mother.
“Krystal was a phenomenal mom to Bella,” Catanzara said. “She loved that little girl. She wanted to raise her right, and do the right thing by her, along with her family. That little girl is pretty resilient.”
Rivera’s funeral will be at noon Wednesday at Living Word Christian Center, 7600 Roosevelt Road, in Forest Park.