Hochul Orders Flags to Be Flown Half-Staff
By Hank Russell
A Queens man was charged in the shooting death of a New York City police officer from Long
Island during a routine traffic stop.
Guy Rivera, 34, of Woodside, was charged with murder and attempted murder for the March 25
shooting death of Jonathan Diller of Massapequa Park and for shooting at an NYPD sergeant
after his car was pulled over. According to Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz’ office,
Rivera allegedly refused to cooperate with the two officers before firing his weapon.
“Police Officer Diller was a father, husband and son simply doing his job to serve and protect,” Katz
said in a statement. “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.”
The charges were filed in Queens Criminal Court. Rivera was charged with first- and second-
degree murder, first- and second-degree attempted murder, four counts of criminal possession
of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree.
Rivera was scheduled to be arraigned on either March 28 or March 29. If convicted, he faces up
to life in prison without parole.
As previously reported by LILP, based on information from the NYPD, on Monday, March 25, at
approximately 5:48 p.m., in the vicinity of 19-19 Mott Avenue, officers from the Patrol Borough
Queens South Community Response Team conducted a car stop. Guy Rivera, 34, who was a
passenger in the car, exited the vehicle with a firearm and shot at the two officers, who then
returned fire. Diller was shot in the abdomen area and was transported to Jamaica Hospital
Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.
Rivera was shot in the back. He was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in stable
condition. The second suspect, Lindy Jones, 41, of Far Rockaway, was immediately taken into
custody. LILP also reported that Jones was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and
willful defacement of a weapon. He was also identified as the driver of the vehicle that was
pulled over.
Like Jones, Rivera has an extensive criminal record. According to news sources, Rivera was
arrested 21 times, primarily for drug possession and assault. In 2021, he was paroled after
serving five years for drugs.
On March 28, in remembrance of Diller, Governor Kathy Hochul directed flags to be flown half-
staff at all state buildings from sunrise to sunset until March 30, the day of Diller’s funeral.
“New Yorkers are in mourning over the loss of Officer Jonathan Diller, a heroic young
man who dedicated his life to public safety and serving the people,” Hochul said. “Our
prayers are with his family, his loved ones and his colleagues in the NYPD as they
grieve this tragic and senseless loss.”