Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that criminal charges were filed today against Guy Rivera in Queens Criminal Court for first-degree murder in the shooting death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller and first-degree attempted murder for attempting to fire his weapon at an NYPD sergeant in Far Rockaway Monday after the officers approached a car in which Rivera was a passenger. Rivera is alleged to have refused to cooperate with Officer Diller before opening fire, striking the 31-year-old officer below his protective vest from close range.

District Attorney Katz said: “Police Officer Diller was a father, husband and son simply doing his job to serve and protect. He was killed for it. 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.”

Rivera, 34, whose last known address is on Broadway in Woodside, was charged with murder in the first and second degrees; attempted murder in the first and second degrees; four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree; and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.

Rivera faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. A Criminal Court arraignment is expected later today or tomorrow.

According to the charges:

• On March 25, at approximately 5:40 p.m., Rivera was seated in the front passenger seat of a Kia Soul parked in front of 19-19 Mott Avenue.

• Rivera removed a gun from his clothing and shot Officer Diller, who had approached the car. The officer was struck in the stomach.

• After shooting Officer Diller, Rivera aimed his gun at Sergeant Sasha Rosen, who was with Officer Diller. Sergeant Rosen used his hand to direct the gun away from his body. Rivera’s finger remained on the trigger as he tried to point the gun back toward the sergeant.

• The gun was loaded but was jammed and unable to shoot.

• Officer Diller was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

• Members of the Queens District Attorney’s office and the 101^stPolice Precinct obtained a court-authorized search warrant for the vehicle. The execution of the warrant led to the discovery of a loaded 9 mm pistol inside the glove compartment. The firearm was found to be defaced, with the serial number scratched off.

• The driver of the car, Lindy Jones, was arraigned yesterday on weapon possession charges.

The investigation was conducted by detectives from the 101^st Police Precinct in partnership with the Queens District Attorney’s office.

Assistant District Attorney John Kosinski, Bureau Chief of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Zawistowski, of the Homicide Bureau, are prosecuting the case, with the assistance of Assistant District Attorneys Kristin Papadopoulos and Jaggnoor Lali, of the Homicide Bureau, under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.