It was an emotional day for the family, friends and former colleagues of Detective Jonathan Diller as they filled the courtroom on the first day of the murder trial.
Guy Rivera is accused of intentionally aiming a gun under the vest of Diller in order to fatally wound him back in 2024.
What You Need To Know
It was an emotional day for the family, friends and former colleagues of Detective Jonathan Diller as they filled the courtroom on the first day of the murder trial
Defense attorneys counter the gun was fired unintentionally during a struggle between Guy Rivera and another officer
Rivera faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted, officials said
Rivera, 36, faces up to life in prison without parole if found guilty of the top charge of first-degree murder.
He has a lengthy arrest record, including several felonies, according to officials.
Prior to the trial getting underway Tuesday, the head of the NYPD police officers union questioned why he was a free man at the time of the shooting.
“A wife, a son waiting for him at home,” New York City Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said outside of Queens County Criminal Courthouse Tuesday. “It was all stripped away from him because of a violent repeat offender who intentionally shot our hero police officer, Jonathan Diller.”
During opening statements Tuesday, prosecutors explained that on March 25, 2024, Diller, who was posthumously promoted to detective following his death, was with his partner, who saw a gun in Rivera’s sweatshirt on Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway.
According to investigators, Rivera got into the passenger side of a car with another man before Diller and other officers approached the vehicle. They said Diller demanded Rivera roll down the window before officers were able to open the passenger-side door.
Investigators said Rivera then took the gun from his clothing and intentionally shot Diller in the stomach by aiming his gun underneath Diller’s bulletproof vest.
“He intended what he meant to do,” prosecutor Kenneth Zawistowski said. “He struck Officer Diller underneath his bulletproof vest, causing harm inside of him.”
Defense attorneys counter the gun was fired unintentionally during a struggle between Rivera and another officer.
“That is from when Sergeant Rosen, full context, has been pulling and grabbing Mr. Rivera out of the car,” defense attorney Erin Darcy said.
During the testimony of the first witness, another officer who was at the scene on the day of the shooting, the court was shown body-worn police camera footage of officers helping to rush Diller to Jamaica Hospital before he was pronounced dead.
“First time seeing it,” Hendry said. “It was incredibly dramatic. Some of his family couldn’t even stay in the courtroom to watch it.”
According to officials, Rivera is charged with murder in the first and second degrees; attempted murder in the first and second degrees; and five additional weapons charges.
There is no word on how long the trial is expected to last. Rivera faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted, officials said.