New York City is mourning the loss of 31-year-old police officer, Jonathan Diller, who was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop in Queens on Monday evening.
The incident unfolded around 6pm in the Far Rockaway neighborhood when Diller and his partner pulled over a vehicle illegally parked at a bus stop. As they approached, one of the vehicle’s occupants suddenly opened fire, striking Diller beneath his bulletproof vest. Despite being grievously wounded, the officer fought to disarm the suspect before collapsing.
His partner also returned fire and struck the gunman, who was taken into custody and remains hospitalized in stable condition. The alleged shooter has been identified as 34-year-old Guy Rivera, who had over 20 prior arrests.
In the aftermath, a heartbroken Mayor Eric Adams spoke of the senseless violence that claimed Jonathan Diller’s life.
“It’s the good guys against the bad guys, and these bad guys are violent…they have a total disregard for the uniform that symbolizes public safety.”
Diller himself was regarded as a symbol of unwavering service, having made over 70 arrests protecting the community he loved during his 3 years on the force. His brother-in-law, also a police officer, paid tribute to the fallen hero as “a great father whose shoes can never be filled.”
As his grieving family prepares for visitation and funeral services this week, the NYPD fraternity also mourns one of their own. Jonathan Diller is the first officer killed in the line of duty since two others tragically lost their lives in Harlem last year.
In this time of sorrow, the community rallies around the deceased’s loved ones, tying blue ribbons on porches and sharing prayers for his young child who must now grow up without a father.
