New York, NY – A gunman accused of fatally shooting an NYPD officer from Long Island during a traffic stop in Queens earlier this week was held without bail Thursday on charges of first-degree murder, among others. Guy Rivera, 34, of Woodside, Queens, faces multiple charges, including attempted murder on another officer, as his gun reportedly jammed during the deadly confrontation. Rivera, who has been hospitalized since being shot by the officer during the incident, is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
The Queens District Attorney’s office stated that Rivera was charged with first and second-degree murder, attempted murder, and various counts of criminal possession of a weapon in connection to the killing of NYPD Officer Jonathan E. Diller, 31, of Massapequa Park. Prosecutors revealed that Rivera attempted to shoot another officer during the incident, but fortunately, his gun malfunctioned. During his arraignment, a spokesperson confirmed that Rivera was ordered remanded.
In a statement, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz expressed, “Police Officer Diller was a father, husband, and son who was simply doing his job to serve and protect. He was killed for it.” Katz asserted, “As alleged, the defendant opened fire and took the officer’s life and tried to shoot another member of the NYPD. We will not rest until we have achieved justice for Officer Diller, his family, and his brothers and sisters in the NYPD who put their lives on the line to protect us.”
Following the shooting of Officer Diller, prosecutors detailed how Rivera attempted to turn the gun towards another officer, Sgt. Sasha Rosen, but was thwarted when the gun jammed. President Joe Biden offered his condolences to New York City Mayor Eric Adams in light of the tragedy, expressing full support for the city of New York and the NYPD. Flags were flown at half-staff across the state to honor Officer Diller, with Governor Kathy Hochul remarking on the tragic loss and offering condolences to his family.
The emotional impact of Officer Diller’s death extended from the courtroom to Citi Field, where the Mets will honor him during the Opening Day ceremony. The Mets will display a sign commemorating Officer Diller, who was the first NYPD officer killed in the line of duty since 2022. Services for Officer Diller are set to take place over the weekend, with a wake and funeral scheduled to celebrate his life and legacy.
Investigations are still ongoing into how the traffic stop escalated to a fatal shooting, with both the gunman, Rivera, and the driver, Lindy Jones, facing criminal charges. Jones, who stated he did not know Rivera and was picking up a hitchhiker, was held without bail on weapon charges. The community continues to mourn the loss of Officer Diller, whose service and sacrifice have left a lasting impact on his colleagues and loved ones.