New York City, NY – After the fatal shooting of an NYPD officer in Queens, the driver involved in the incident has been arraigned on felony weapons charges, while the alleged shooter remains hospitalized awaiting charges, as per the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
Lindy Jones, 31, was charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon after a loaded and defaced 9 mm handgun was found in the vehicle he was driving before the shooting. The arraignment took place at the Queens Criminal Court, where Jones, who did not enter a plea, was ordered to be held without bail by Judge Maria Gonzalez.
The alleged shooter, Guy Rivera, 34, remains hospitalized in police custody and is set to be charged at a later date, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Police recovered the weapon believed to have been used by Rivera in the fatal shooting of NYPD Officer Jonathan E. Diller.
During a search of the vehicle, investigators found a defaced 9 mm handgun with ammunition inside. The tragic incident occurred when Rivera, a passenger in Jones’ vehicle, fired a shot at Diller during a traffic stop in Queens, resulting in Diller’s death.
The arraignment session revealed chilling details of the events leading up to the shooting, as Jones claimed to investigators that he was unaware of Rivera’s intentions and that he mentioned the gun in the vehicle in the presence of a police officer.
The emotional impact of Officer Diller’s death has reverberated within the community, with plans for a wake and a memorial service in his honor. Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into how the traffic stop escalated into a tragedy, while also delving into the criminal histories of both Jones and Rivera.