QUEENS (WABC) — This morning, a Queens courtroom will be packed with family, friends and fellow officers of slain NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop that turned deadly.
Suspected killer Guy Rivera, 35, was indicted on first-degree murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges in the fatal shooting of Diller.
Rivera pled not guilty to charges of first and second degree murder.
He faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
Police officers will pack the courtroom for the trial which is expected to be attended by the officer’s widow, Stephanie Diller, now a single mother of a 3-year-old.
The shooting happened in Far Rockaway, Queens, during a traffic stop on March 25.
Police say Rivera was in the passenger seat of a car when he pulled a gun and shot Diller, 31, through the window. He was shot in the back by Diller’s partner.
Prosecutors said he then “attempted to cause the death of Sgt. Sasha Rosen” by shooting again, but his gun jammed.
Rivera has 21 prior arrests and has served time for assault, robbery and possession of a controlled substance.
A second suspect, 43-year-old Lindy Jones, was indicted back in 2024 on a weapons charge in this case. Jones has a conviction for attempted murder.
Officers believed Rivera and Jones were planning to rob a store.
Testimony is expected to include Sgt. Rosen, a veteran officer with nearly 25 years’ experience, including in gun cases, who will explain how the officers saw Rivera’s bulging sweatshirt and correctly suspected he was carrying a firearm. Rosen first spotted the bulge, prompting Rivera to approach the vehicle.
The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.
———-
* More Queens news
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.
