Officer Jonathan Diller, a 31-year-old New York Police Department officer, was shot and killed by a career criminal in Queens, New York, during a traffic stop on the evening of Monday, March 25. Officials called the shooting a “senseless act of violence.” The shooting comes amidst a serious crime problem in New York City, as shown by Gov. Hochul deploying the National Guard to the city’s subway system.
Officer Diller, a three-year veteran of the NYPD, was married and the father of a 1-year-old boy. He and other officers were trying to remove a suspect, later identified as 34-year-old repeat offender Guy Rivera, from the passenger seat of a car stopped in Far Rockaway, Queens. During the altercation, Rivera fired a weapon and struck Officer Diller in the stomach.
According to NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, the shooting came when a pair of officers including Officer Diller approached the car and Rivera, who has 21 prior arrests, drew a firearm and aimed it at the officers, refusing to exit his vehicle. Rivera soon started firing and one of his rounds hit Officer Diller below his body armor. Officer Diller died of his wound.
Caban, after Officer Diller died at the city’s Jamaica Hospital, wrote, “Tonight this city lost a hero, a wife lost her husband, and a young child lost their father. We struggle to find the words to express the tragedy of losing one of our own. The work that Police Officer Jonathan Diller did each day to make this city a safer place will NEVER be forgotten.” He added, “Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, and brothers and sisters in blue.”
Council Member Linda Lee, who represents the 23rd Council District in Eastern Queens, posted about the horrific incident on X, saying, “My heart is with the NYPD and the family of Officer Jonathan Diller. Our officers bravely charge into the unknown to protect New Yorkers – never knowing if they will return home at the end of the day. Praying for the loved ones of Officer Diller during this agonizing time.”
Mayor Adams, speaking about the shooting in a press conference, said, “It was because of a senseless act of violence that we witnessed, the person had a total disregard for the safety of this city. I cannot say it any clearer: it is the good guys against the bad guys. And these bad guys are violent. They carry guns. And the symbol of our public safety, which is that police uniform, they have a total disregard for.”
He added, “And we could see it as the role that police officers play every day as they move towards violence, but the reality is this is a loved one that we lost, a young man. My heart goes out to Jonathan’s family, Stephanie, and all that are in the room giving them the support. This is a devastating moment, one of the most difficult processes I have as the mayor of the City of New York. It’s my obligation to keep the men and women who wear that uniform safe.”
Watch Mayor Adams here:
Featured image credit: NYPD
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