NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, tragically gunned down by an alleged habitual offender while performing his duties. This shocking incident has left the entire community in mourning.
On March 27, 2024, the usually quiet Far Rockaway street was disrupted by an alarming incident. Officer Jonathan Diller, a dedicated member of the New York Police Department, was on duty when he suffered fatal gunshot wounds at the hands of a suspect, identified as Guy Rivera. The horrifying event was captured by surveillance footage, which showed Diller in severe distress moments after the shooting.
The 34-year-old suspect, Guy Rivera, was embroiled in a scuffle with Diller near a dark gray Kia Soul when the shots were fired. Rivera, a recurring face in the criminal circuit, allegedly fired three shots at Diller. The aftermath of this brutal attack left Diller writhing in pain, while Rivera fell onto the sidewalk, out of the camera frame.
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The unsettling visuals shared on social media showed Diller, 31, dragging himself behind the car and collapsing on the pavement. Meanwhile, Rivera’s whereabouts were unknown as he had fallen out of the camera’s view.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Diller’s partner, who was on the driver’s side of the car, retaliated with two return shots. One of these shots hit Rivera in the back. The partner then pulled another man, identified as Lindy Jones, 41, from the driver’s seat and ordered him to the ground before handcuffing him.
In the distressing moments following the shooting, another officer tried to console and assist Diller, whose screams of pain were punctuated with moans of “Oh, God!”. Soon, a horde of police officers flocked to the scene, gently lifting Diller and loading him into an unmarked police vehicle.
Officer Diller, who had served the force for three years and was a father to a one-year-old, was shot once in the stomach below his protective vest. He was immediately rushed to Jamaica Hospital, but despite the best efforts of the medical team, he was pronounced dead.
The suspected perpetrator, Rivera, was also removed from the scene and transported to a hospital via ambulance. However, his charges are yet to be determined.
Key Details about the Incident
- Jonathan Diller, 31, was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens, on March 25, 2024.
- The suspect, Guy Rivera, reportedly opened fire on Diller after Diller approached the vehicle Rivera was in for parking in front of a bus stop.
- Diller, a married father of a one-year-old boy, was shot once in the stomach below his bulletproof vest. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
- In response to the shooting, Diller’s partner returned fire, wounding Rivera. The suspect, who has been arrested 21 times prior, was found to have a concealed weapon (shiv) stored in his rectum during the shooting. This revelation led to speculation that he anticipated being incarcerated again.
- Lindy Jones, the ex-convict who was driving the car during the shooting, was also arrested after a second gun was found in his car.
- The incident has prompted Mayor Eric Adams to renew his calls for Albany to address the issue of criminal recidivism.
When Rivera was taken to the hospital, doctors found a shiv hidden in his rectum. This discovery led to speculation that Rivera, who had 21 prior arrests, might have stored the weapon, anticipating an arrest for a separate crime and wanting protection in jail.
As the community grapples with the loss of Officer Diller, his one-year-old son’s future education will be funded by the Silver Shield Foundation. The foundation, established in 1982 by the late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, aids the families of NYPD officers and FDNY firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty. Contributions can be made at silvershieldfoundation.org/donate.
