Far Rockaway, Queens — A tragic incident unfolded on Monday night in Far Rockaway, Queens, when NYPD Officer Jonathan E. Diller, a Long Island native, lost his life in a fatal shooting during a routine traffic stop. Lindy Jones, 31, the driver of the vehicle, was arraigned on Wednesday for felony weapons charges after a search of his car revealed a loaded and defaced 9 mm handgun. Guy Rivera, 34, the alleged shooter, remains hospitalized and will face charges at a later date.
At the arraignment in Queens Criminal Court, Jones was charged with second- and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was ordered held without bail. Prosecutors found a defaced 9 mm handgun with a round of ammunition in the chamber and seven more in an attached magazine during the search of Jones’ vehicle. Rivera, the alleged shooter, was hospitalized in police custody following the incident.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard announced that former President Donald Trump plans to attend Officer Diller’s wake in Massapequa on Thursday afternoon. The NYPD will provide security while the Secret Service takes the lead during the visitation at Massapequa Funeral Home’s South Chapel.
The emotional impact of Officer Diller’s death has reverberated through the community, with hundreds of police officers in attendance at the arraignment to show their support. In a statement, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz vowed to seek justice for Officer Diller and his family, emphasizing the officer’s selflessness and dedication to serving the city.
During the arraignment, Queens Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Reale revealed that Jones claimed he was picking up a hitchhiker and did not know Rivera. Jones mentioned the gun in the car to a police officer while being held at the precinct. Jones faces up to 15 years in prison on the weapons charges.
The tragedy of Officer Diller’s death has prompted an outpouring of support, with plans for a memorial sign at Citi Field and a moment of silence at the Mets’ Opening Day game in his honor. A wake for Officer Diller will be held on Thursday, followed by a service and burial on Saturday.
As the investigation into the fatal shooting continues, questions remain about the circumstances that led to the tragic incident. The last NYPD officers killed on duty were Wilbert Mora, 27, and Jason Rivera, 22, who were shot in 2022 while responding to a domestic dispute.