Chicago — A $15,000 cash reward is being offered for information that leads to charges being filed against the people who killed Carlos Rivera, a widely admired and longtime umpire for Chicago sports leagues.
Rivera, 50, was shot to death as he stepped out of his Irving Park home to investigate a disturbance in his upstairs neighbor’s apartment around 9:10 p.m. on October 23.
For the next 60 days, Cook County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $15,000 for information that results in the indictment or conviction of whoever is responsible. Anonymous tips qualify for the reward.
Crime Stoppers can be reached at 800-525-STOP and TIPS@cookcountycrimestoppers.org
Shortly before he was murdered, Rivera heard a commotion coming from his upstairs neighbors in the 4300 block of North Whipple, police said. Rivera went to investigate. Someone shot him in the face as he stepped into the hallway, police said.
Investigators have spent a month trying to figure out what happened and who did it. The upstairs neighbors were said to be uncooperative, at least initially.
“The community lost its top protector,” Ella Ralston wrote in a GoFundMe campaign for Rivera’s family. “Carlos’ family needs to know that we stand behind warriors of peace like Carlos and won’t allow these senseless acts of violence to go unpunished.”
“When I say a hard working man, I mean a hard working man,” Max Rundberg remembered on Twitter. “He would work his early morning job and finish his day in the early afternoon and go straight to umpire a baseball game afterwards. He’d do around 300 games in a spring/summer and fall. We’ll definitely miss you, Los’”
“Horner Park legend,” remembered another man. “His voice behind the plate was unforgettable.”
Rivera umped games for youth and high school leagues throughout Chicagoland and in the Chicago Park District, his obituary said. He worked at Northwestern University before he recently took a job with the Cook County Hospital system.
“His wife and son have endured tragedy after tragedy within the past two years. As their neighbors, family, and friends, we can’t stand to see them suffer anymore,” Ralston said.
