NYPD detective Jonathan Diller’s killer acquitted of murder, guilty of manslaughter
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The man accused of fatally shooting NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop in Queens two years ago was found guilty not of first-degree murder but of involuntary manslaughter and other charges.
Guy Rivera was convicted Wednesday of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, attempted first-degree murder for attempting to shoot an NYPD sergeant who responded to the scene, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was acquitted of first-degree murder.
Earlier Wednesday, the jury said it had reached a verdict but was sent back for further deliberations after one of the jurors told the court the verdict was not unanimous.
The foreman told the judge at the time that they had reached a not guilty verdict on the first-degree murder charge, but found Rivera guilty of the other charges against him. But when the court clerk polled the jurors one by one to confirm whether they agreed with the verdict, juror No. 5 said they disagreed, according to the New York Post.
NYPD’S SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING JONATHAN DILLER ‘LOOKS LIKE LAUGHING’ IN BODY CAMERA VIDEO: STATEMENT
Guy Rivera was found not guilty of first-degree murder, but of involuntary manslaughter and other charges. (Dave Sanders/Pool/The New York Times; NYPD)
“As I told the jurors, your verdict must be unanimous. Please come back in and consider the matter,” Judge Michael Aloise told the jury.
Shortly afterwards several notes were sent from the jury; one asked how many days they would have to deliberate if they couldn’t reach a verdict that day, and the other said one of the jurors would have to make a phone call to cancel the appointment.
“There is no time limit, continue negotiating,” the judge told them.
Later Wednesday, the jury returned and agreed on the verdict.
Guy Rivera shot and killed NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop in Queens in 2024. (Fox News)
Diller and his partner, Sergeant Sasha Rosen, stopped an illegally parked vehicle outside a cellphone store in Far Rockaway in March 2024, authorities said. Prosecutors said Rivera then shot and killed Diller after being ordered to exit the vehicle.
Prosecutors said that after Rivera shot Diller, he pointed his gun at Rosen’s chest and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed. Diller took the gun from his hand before he collapsed on the street due to his injuries.
Rivera was also shot twice during the encounter.
Diller was scheduled to be off duty the day of the murder. He was in the park with his wife and young son when he was called.
THE WIDOW OF NYPD OFFICER JONATHAN DILLER CRIES AS THE BLUE SEA COURTROOM FILLS THE MURDER TRIAL OF THE ACCUSED COP KILLER.
Widow Stephanie Diller is seen during the funeral service for New York City Police Department Officer Jonathan Diller at Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa Park, New York, on March 30, 2024. (Image Direct for Fox News Digital)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“Detective Jonathan Diller’s last words to his wife were ‘I love you,'” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. he said. “Detective Diller was a father, a husband, and a son. He was also a dedicated member of the New York City Police Department and wore a uniform every day to protect our city.”
“This crime stole the life of a dedicated officer and a family man and endangered the life of a loyal NYPD sergeant,” the statement said. The statement was included. “We continue to stand in solidarity with Detective Diller’s loved ones, Sergeant Sasha Rosen, and all the brave men and women who protect our city.”
