It was an emotional scene in a Queens courtroom Tuesday as more than 100 police officers showed up in solidarity with slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller as a suspect in his killing was arraigned.
Diller was a 31-year-old New York City police officer who was allegedly shot and killed by suspect Guy Rivera, 34, in late March.
His memorial has become a stage for politicians of various stripes: Former President Donald Trump was warmly welcomed at his wake, while mourners applauded when New York’s Democratic governor, Kathy Hochul, was prayed to leave.
On Tuesday, Lindy Jones, 41, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was allegedly sitting in the driver’s seat when Guy Rivera killed Diller.
Jones – who once told cops “My name is Lindy Jones Jr. and I shoot people” – pleaded not guilty as Diller’s colleagues looked on in the courtroom.
It was an emotional scene in a Queens courtroom Tuesday as more than 100 police officers showed up in solidarity with slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller as a suspect in his killing was arraigned.
Diller was a 31-year-old New York City police officer who was allegedly shot and killed by suspect Guy Rivera, 34, in late March.
On Tuesday, Lindy Jones, 41, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and was allegedly sitting in the driver’s seat when Guy Rivera killed Diller.
He had previously been the subject of 14 arrests, including a conviction for attempted murder and robbery in 2003, which earned him a 10-year sentence behind bars.
Jones was arrested on gun charges last April, but was released on $75,000 bail which was due back in court on Monday.
After Jones’ arrest in April, where he was arrested with a loaded gun, Mayor Eric Adams said he was a prime example of a “recidivism problem,” meaning a small number of perpetrators commit a large number of crimes.
“The same bad guys do bad things to good people,” Adams added.
He was charged with robbery, assault and attempted murder in 2001 for allegedly shooting a man three times, according to the New York Post.
Jones – who was rumored to go by “Killa” – allegedly told police he did not know Rivera.
Rivera was previously charged with first and second degree murder, attempted first and second degree murder, four counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon and third degree criminal possession of a weapon for homicide. .
“There is no greater priority for my office than removing illegal guns from our streets to prevent the devastation they cause, whether it’s the shooting of a child playing in a backyard. “school or an NYPD officer doing his job to keep us safe,” Queens said. » DA Melinda Katz said in a statement.
Police also showed up in large numbers when Jones was brought before the criminal court on March 27.
Jones – who once told cops “My name is Lindy Jones Jr. and I shoot people” – pleaded not guilty as Diller’s colleagues looked on in the courtroom.
Suspect Guy Rivera was shot at the scene by a colleague of Officer Diller and taken to the hospital, has 21 prior arrests and previously served five years in prison on drug charges before being released on speech in 2021.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving this goal and seeking justice for Detective Diller and his loved ones.”
Rivera’s next appearance is scheduled for May 7, while Jones was ordered to return to court on June 12.
Diller, who was the father of a 1-year-old boy, was allegedly shot by Rivera during a traffic stop Monday in the passenger seat of the car Jones was driving.
The death sparked a huge response from the law enforcement community, with New York Police Commissioner Edward Cavan calling him a “hero.”
Authorities say Jones was driving a car illegally parked in front of a bus lane, causing Diller and his partner to approach them.
After Rivera allegedly refused to roll down his window or show his hands, he allegedly opened fire on Diller, hitting the young officer under his bulletproof vest.
Diller’s partner returned fire and Rivera and Diller were rushed to the hospital. The officer was later pronounced dead.
Prosecutors said a search warrant was served on the vehicle involved in the shooting, which uncovered a second firearm.
Diller, who was the father of a 1-year-old boy, was allegedly shot by Rivera during a traffic stop Monday in the passenger seat of the car Jones was driving.
Diller pictured with his now widow Stephanie Diller
Investigators believe Jones and Rivera had taken over a T-Mobile store before the shooting.
Horrific surveillance footage captured the moment the young NYPD officer writhes in agony on the streets of New York after being shot.
Three loud gunshots can be heard as bystanders flee for safety.
Although he was shot, Diller heroically wrestled the gun away from the shooter after it fell to the ground, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press briefing.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams called the shooting a “senseless act of violence” during a news conference outside Jamaica Hospital.
“I can’t put it any clearer: It’s the good guys versus the bad guys, and those bad guys are violent,” added Adams, a former cop.
After Rivera’s arrest, it emerged that he also had an extensive criminal history, including first-degree robbery, illegal possession of firearms and assault.
He has 21 previous arrests and served five years in prison for drug trafficking before being paroled in 2021.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media after attending the funeral of murdered New York City police officer Jonathan Diller at the Massapequa Funeral Home on March 28, 2024 in Massapequa, New York.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul was seen on camera being applauded as she was asked to leave the wake for slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller Friday afternoon and was even reportedly reprimanded by the cop’s grieving widow.
Stephanie Diller, the widow of New York Police Department (NYPD) Officer Jonathan Diller, pictured at his funeral
Rivera was also incarcerated from 2011 to 2014 for first-degree assault.
Former President Donald Trump attended the officers’ vigil, where he criticized Joe Biden for not attending despite being only a half-hour away.
Trump also accused his Democratic rival of not supporting the police because his liberal supporters “won’t let him.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul was seen on camera being applauded as she was asked to leave the wake for slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller on Friday afternoon and reportedly even was chastised by the cop’s grieving widow.
The governor was scheduled to pay tribute to him on the second day of Diller’s visits.
After Hochul arrived at the funeral home around 1:45 p.m. Friday, someone in the crowd yelled, “Get her out of here,” police sources told the Post.
In a video posted to social media by Fox News, Hochul can be seen confronting a stranger outside the Long Island funeral home and given what appears to be a stern conversation, although the conversation is not audible, as he gestures at her. .
Hochul nods, says a few words and turns to leave, at which point someone watching can be heard audibly clapping. The video then shows her being taken away in a black SUV.
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