Two charged in fatal shooting of nypd detective in far rockaway

QUEENS, NY – Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the indictment of Guy Rivera and Lindy Jones for their roles in the shooting death of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller in Far Rockaway. Rivera faces charges of first-degree murder and attempted murder, while both defendants are charged with criminal possession of a weapon.

Detective Diller was posthumously promoted to First Grade following his death last week. The indictment comes as a response to the tragic event that DA Katz described as a severe blow to the city’s security and a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers.

Rivera, 34, of Woodside, and Jones, 41, of Edgemere, could face life in prison and up to 15 years in prison, respectively, if convicted. The case highlights a disturbing incident where the defendants allegedly ignored police commands, leading to Detective Diller’s shooting at close range.

The altercation on March 25 involved Rivera purportedly aiming a gun at Sergeant Sasha Rosen after shooting Diller, only to be thwarted by a jammed weapon. The subsequent investigation uncovered a defaced 9 mm pistol in the suspects’ vehicle.

The court has scheduled Jones to appear again on April 16, with Rivera’s next appearance set for May 7. The prosecution aims to seek justice for Detective Diller, emphasizing the impact of his loss on the community, his family, and the NYPD.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.