The trial of Guy Rivera for the murder of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller turned chaotic when a juror revealed the initial verdict on first-degree murder was not unanimous. After further deliberation, the jury acquitted Rivera of first-degree murder but convicted him of aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, attempted murder in the first degree, and criminal possession of a weapon. Rivera faces up to 90 years in prison without parole on these charges.
Trial Proceedings Unfold in Queens Court
In Queens Supreme Criminal Court, jurors deliberated for hours before initially announcing Rivera’s acquittal on first-degree murder. The foreman informed Judge Michael Aloise of guilty verdicts on the remaining charges. However, when the judge polled each juror, Juror Number 5 disagreed, prompting Aloise to state, “As I told you jurors, your verdict must be unanimous. Please go back in and deliberate.”
The jury returned shortly after, delivering a unanimous verdict acquitting Rivera of first-degree murder while finding him guilty on the lesser charges. Jurors also sent notes asking about deliberation time limits and if one could make a phone call; Aloise clarified there is no deadline for unanimity.
The Fatal Traffic Stop in Far Rockaway
Officer Jonathan Diller was shot and killed on March 25, 2024, during a routine traffic stop of an illegally parked car in Far Rockaway, Queens. Diller, who was off-duty and spending time with his wife and son at a park, responded to the call. Surveillance footage captured three gunshots as Rivera allegedly fired after Diller ordered him from the vehicle. Diller yelled, “I’m hit!” while clutching his stomach wound. Despite his injury, he heroically kicked the dropped gun away from Rivera. Bystanders fled as Diller screamed in pain before medics rushed him to Jamaica Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Rivera, also wounded, was hospitalized. Prosecutors state he admitted to hiding a knife in his rectum during his stay. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Family Reactions and Officer Diller’s Legacy
Diller’s widow, Stephanie, and his mother attended the hearing. They gasped and cried upon hearing the initial acquittal on first-degree murder. Photos showed Stephanie in tears. Diller, a father, husband, and dedicated NYPD officer, leaves behind his wife of six years and young son.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated: “The last words Detective Jonathan Diller told his wife were, ‘I love you.’ Detective Diller was a father, a husband and a son. He was also a dedicated member of the New York City Police Department who put on a uniform every day to protect our city. This crime stole the life of a dutiful officer and a family man and endangered the life of a devoted NYPD sergeant.”
Katz added: “Detective Diller was shot and killed while trying to rid our streets of illegal weapons, a lawless act that was an affront to a civilized society. His tragic death is a painful reminder that we must never let up in our quest to get these guns and those who use them off of our streets.”
Diller’s brother-in-law, Jonny Mac, vowed to care for the son: “What started out as an everyday car stop, instantly became a moment where so many lives would be turned upside down. Jon leaves behind a wife and a one-year-old son who will now grow up without his father… I swear to you that I will look after your son as if he were my own. For the rest of my life.”
Rivera’s Extensive Criminal Record
Rivera, 34, has 21 prior arrests, including first-degree robbery, illegal gun possession, assaults, and drug charges. He served five years in prison before parole in 2021 and was incarcerated from 2011 to 2014 for first-degree assault. Uniformed officers gathered outside the courthouse in support.
