Cop who shot own partner — and ex-lover— waited before giving aid, disturbing bodycam shows
Disturbing police body camera footage released by the Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability shows the moment a Chicago police officer fatally shot his partner during a chaotic pursuit and then waited nearly two minutes before providing direct aid as she lay injured.
The videos show Officer Carlos Baker firing the shot that struck his partner, Officer Krystal Rivera, inside an apartment building during an incident last year. Rivera was left unconscious and bleeding on the floor as Baker moved away and took cover.
According to the footage, the two officers entered a building in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood and pursued an armed suspect up a stairwell around 9:50 p.m. on June 5, 2025. Baker was ahead of Rivera when he kicked open an apartment door and encountered a man allegedly pointing what appeared to be a rifle toward the entrance. He then stumbled and fired a shot behind him, which struck Rivera, the video indicates.
Baker then ran up the stairs and radioed that shots had been fired, before calling out to Rivera about 20 seconds later and receiving no response. He briefly moved back toward the stairwell, reported over the radio that his partner had been shot, and requested an ambulance. He then retreated again and called for SWAT assistance.
Roughly 90 seconds later, Baker returned, dragged Rivera down the stairs to the lobby, and other responding officers provided emergency medical aid. Rivera, 36, a four-year veteran of the department, later died at a hospital less than an hour after the shooting.
An autopsy determined she was shot in the back and ruled the death a homicide. The department has described the incident as friendly fire, and authorities have said Baker was the only officer who discharged a weapon during the pursuit.
In December, Rivera’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department, alleging Baker had been dealing with tension related to Rivera ending a personal relationship between them. They also argued he should not have been on duty and raised concerns about his fitness as an officer, citing prior misconduct complaints.
According to reports, Baker told investigators he and Rivera were “best friends” and denied any ongoing romantic relationship, while also insisting he would never intentionally harm her.
After the footage was released, leadership from the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police defended Baker’s actions. Rivera’s family, however, said the video shows he failed to provide immediate life-saving assistance and “left her to die.”
The investigation into the shooting remains ongoing.
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