A 31-year-old NYPD cop was shot and killed by a career criminal during a traffic stop in Queens on Monday evening in a “senseless act of violence,” officials and law enforcement sources said.
Officer Jonathan Diller, a married father of a 1-year-old boy, was shot in the stomach after police tried to remove the suspect, identified by sources as 34-year-old Guy Rivera, from the passenger seat of the car near 19-19 Mott Ave. in Far Rockaway, according to the NYPD and sources.
Diller, who had three years on the force, fell to the ground and screamed that he had been “hit” after the suspect opened fire, according to witness Deon Peters.
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NYPD officer Jonathan Diller was killed Monday during a traffic stop.NYPD
An NYPD officer was shot and killed by a career criminal during a traffic stop.Peter Gerber
“He was moving, he was saying, ‘I’m hit, I’m hit!’ Giving location and all that,” Peters said. “Like he was crying, like he was really crying.”
Diller was rushed in critical condition to Jamaica Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“Tonight this city lost a hero, a wife lost her husband, and a young child lost their father,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban wrote on X. “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.
“Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, and brothers and sisters in blue.”
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Diller with his 1-year-old son.
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Sources identified Guy Rivera as the suspect in Diller’s shooting.
The tragic shooting unfolded around 5:50 p.m. after cops approached the vehicle that was stopped in front of a bus stop.
Rivera “was asked to leave the car, he was given a lawful order numerous times to step out of the car, he refused,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during a press briefing.
The incident happened near 19-19 Mott Ave. in Far Rockaway.Peter Gerber
“And when the officer took him out of the car, instead of stepping out of the car, he shot our officer,” said Kenny.
The bullet hit Diller under his police vest, authorities said.
Even after Diller was shot, the Long Island resident heroically got the gun away from the shooter when the weapon fell to the ground, according to Kenny.
The bullet hit the 31-year-old officer under his police vest.
Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference Monday after the police officer was killed in the line of duty.Kevin C. Downs for NY Post
Diller’s partner returned gunfire and struck Rivera, who has 21 prior arrests, in the back, sources said.
The suspect was also taken to Jamaica Hospital, where police said he was in stable condition.
“We lost Jonathan tonight,” Mayor Eric Adams said during the solemn press conference at Jamaica Hospital.
“I can’t not say it any clearer: It is the good guys against the bad guys and these bad guys are violent,” he added, calling the fatal shooting a “senseless act of violence.”
Officer Jonathan Diller, a married father of a 1-year-old boy, was shot in the stomach after police tried to remove the suspect, identified by sources as 34-year-old Guy Rivera, from the passenger seat of the car near 19-19 Mott Ave. in Far Rockaway, according to the NYPD and sources.
Diller, who had three years on the force, fell to the ground and screamed that he had been “hit” after the suspect opened fire, according to witness Deon Peters.
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NYPD officer Jonathan Diller was killed Monday during a traffic stop.NYPD
An NYPD officer was shot and killed by a career criminal during a traffic stop.Peter Gerber
“He was moving, he was saying, ‘I’m hit, I’m hit!’ Giving location and all that,” Peters said. “Like he was crying, like he was really crying.”
Diller was rushed in critical condition to Jamaica Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
“Tonight this city lost a hero, a wife lost her husband, and a young child lost their father,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban wrote on X. “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.
“Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, and brothers and sisters in blue.”
13
Diller with his 1-year-old son.
13
Sources identified Guy Rivera as the suspect in Diller’s shooting.
The tragic shooting unfolded around 5:50 p.m. after cops approached the vehicle that was stopped in front of a bus stop.
Rivera “was asked to leave the car, he was given a lawful order numerous times to step out of the car, he refused,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said during a press briefing.
The incident happened near 19-19 Mott Ave. in Far Rockaway.Peter Gerber
“And when the officer took him out of the car, instead of stepping out of the car, he shot our officer,” said Kenny.
The bullet hit Diller under his police vest, authorities said.
Even after Diller was shot, the Long Island resident heroically got the gun away from the shooter when the weapon fell to the ground, according to Kenny.
The bullet hit the 31-year-old officer under his police vest.
Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference Monday after the police officer was killed in the line of duty.Kevin C. Downs for NY Post
Diller’s partner returned gunfire and struck Rivera, who has 21 prior arrests, in the back, sources said.
The suspect was also taken to Jamaica Hospital, where police said he was in stable condition.
“We lost Jonathan tonight,” Mayor Eric Adams said during the solemn press conference at Jamaica Hospital.
“I can’t not say it any clearer: It is the good guys against the bad guys and these bad guys are violent,” he added, calling the fatal shooting a “senseless act of violence.”