Mourners gather to pay tribute to fallen officer Krystal Rivera

CHICAGO (WGN) – Mourners lined up outside Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home on the Far Northwest Side Tuesday to share their condolences with the family of fallen Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera at Rivera’s visitation.

Among the mourners was Enrique Anaya, whose supervisor at the U.S. Postal Service is Rivera’s father.

“There’s a lot of tears in there, a lot of sorrow,” Anaya said. “I was with him that day. He was riding along with me in the postal truck and later that night and that happened, and we were talking about my son a lot in the postal truck who lost his life to gun violence three and a half years ago.”

Hours after that conversation at work, Anaya learned he now shared that same pain with Rivera’s father.

On the night of June 5, Rivera was unintentionally shot by another police officer as they ran after a man suspected of having a gun.

Police said the officers chased the man into an apartment where a second man confronted them with a rifle. One officer fired a shot and unintentionally hit Rivera.

Rivera was 36 years old and a four-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department. She’s described as a loving mother and is being remembered by those who knew her for her courage and compassion.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara came to pay his respects and met Rivera’s family inside.

“We haven’t had any experience like this in over four decades,” Catanzara said. “The boogeyman so to speak is one of our own in their minds. That’s kind of a hard pill to swallow for any family…we know they’ve got a long road ahead and we’re going to be there to support them in any way we possibly can.”

Two men have been charged in connection with Rivera’s death.

The visitation continues through 8 p.m. Tuesday, while Rivera’s funeral is scheduled for noon Wednesday at the Living Word Christian Center in Forest Park.