Romanucci & Blandin voices concerns about the body-worn camera video released of shooting death of Krystal Rivera

Statement from Founding Partner Antonio M. Romanucci and the legal team representing the family of Krystal Rivera:

"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. 

We know there is a considerable amount of body-worn camera footage in the immediate moments after Krystal was shot that has not been released. COPA and the Chicago Police Department should not select only the audio and video portions they believe relevant in order to perfect a cover story. 

All body-worn footage is essential to the public understanding the full scope of this tragedy.

Our legal team, which had a prior viewing of the video, has noted at least one discrepancy between the video they saw previously and the version released today. We will conduct a full forensic video audit and analysis to investigate this concern and any others. 

COPA also today released the Tactical Response Report, or TRR, which is a standard form filed after an incident of this nature. That document includes blatant false information about the June 5th shooting. In the narrative, on page 2, it describes the incident, saying: "The unknown subject discharged a firearm at the involved member, causing a fatal injury." The gun that killed Krystal was that of her partner, Carlos Baker, not one of the subjects they were pursuing.  Chicago Police said publicly on June 6th that Krystal died from a bullet from her partner's gun. This TRR report, signed on June 7th, after the CPD admitted who killed Krystal, never should have been signed and submitted.

We reassert that Carlos Baker was unfit to be a Chicago Police Officer and that CPD put Krystal at risk by giving him a badge and a gun. More so, he failed in his duty to render life-saving aid to his Krystal after he shot her.

We do not have confidence that this investigation is being handled in a fair and objective manner. We call for an independent investigation into Krystal's death and the conduct of the CPD that has followed. Indeed, we are suspicious of why the videos are released while an investigation is underway.

While the release of some video footage in relation to the tragic death of Officer Krystal Rivera is an important step towards transparency, it is also deeply painful for her family members, who continue to grieve her death and are understandably distressed by the images and sounds of her passing. Further, the sheer disrespect to Krystal's family by not blurring Krystal's face while she was dying retraumatizes this family and the community. Krystal is the victim.  Not Carlos Baker. 

What is clear from both the content of the actual video and the manner in which it is being conveyed to the public is that Krystal deserved better from CPD.

Ultimately, we look forward to a jury of Krystal's peers hearing this case in court."

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Additional information on the situation from Romanucci & Blandin:

• Civil investigation announcement (July 2, 2025)
• Statement from Krystal Rivera Legal Team on Carlos Baker being relieved of police powers (August 15, 2025)
• Romanucci & Blandin files Wrongful Death lawsuit against City of Chicago and Chicago Police partner who shot Officer Krystal Rivera (December 11, 2025)