CHICAGO — A 27-year-old man identified by a throat tattoo reading “SLIME” is facing serious new charges connected to the tragic death of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera, who was accidentally shot by her partner on June 5 during a chaotic encounter on the city’s South Side.
Jaylin Arnold, who was already on parole for his third gun-related conviction, was arrested Thursday by Chicago police and U.S. Marshals. According to police, Arnold was found with narcotics and allegedly had another firearm at the time of the June 5 incident that led to Rivera’s death.
Details of the Deadly Encounter
Police say Officer Rivera and her partner were patrolling the 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue around 9:50 p.m. when they confronted Arnold, whom they suspected of carrying a gun. Arnold reportedly ran into an apartment, vaulting over furniture as Rivera pursued him down a hallway.
Inside the apartment, a second suspect — Adrian Rucker, 25 — allegedly pointed a gun at the officers from behind a couch. Believing they were under threat, Rivera’s partner fired a single shot. The bullet struck Officer Rivera in the upper back, in an area not protected by her vest, fatally wounding her.
Prosecutors say body-worn camera footage and building surveillance confirmed Rucker’s threatening movements. Rucker was apprehended shortly after the shooting, while Arnold also fled the scene.
Arnold’s Criminal History and New Charges
State records show Arnold was released on parole in October 2024, after serving just half of a seven-year sentence for a felon-in-possession firearm case. He had previously been convicted on gun charges in both 2016 and 2017, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Arnold now faces a list of new charges including:
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Armed violence
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Three counts of firearm possession by a repeat felon
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Manufacture and delivery of cocaine
These charges were announced Saturday, and additional details are expected during Arnold’s detention hearing.
Rucker’s Role in the Shooting
While Arnold is believed to have initiated the confrontation, it was Rucker’s alleged brandishing of a firearm that led to Rivera being unintentionally shot by her own partner. Prosecutors say Rivera was directly behind Arnold when Rucker aimed the weapon — prompting her partner to shoot.
As reported in the earlier CWBChicago update, Assistant State’s Attorney Joell Bisceglia confirmed that Rucker was clearly seen pointing a weapon toward the officers in both body cam and apartment security footage.
Officer Rivera’s Final Salute
Officer Krystal Rivera’s funeral services have been scheduled:
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Visitation: June 24, 2–8 p.m. at Montclair-Lucania Funeral Home, 6901 W. Belmont Ave.
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Funeral: June 25, 12 p.m. at Living Word Christian Center, 7600 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park.
The CPD and Rivera’s family are expected to gather for a final tribute to the young officer, whose death has sparked renewed concerns over repeat gun offenders and systemic parole enforcement issues.
What do you think about repeat offenders being back on the streets so quickly? Should gun crimes come with stricter parole rules? Join the discussion below on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
