Hundreds of cops line Long Island street to salute hearse carrying slain cop Jonathan Diller as thug nicknamed ‘killa’ is marched into court in connection to shooting
Hundreds of NYPD officers descended on a courthouse in Queens on Wednesday as a suspect was charged in connection with the broad daylight killing of an officer.
One of the suspects in Monday’s horror cop shooting, Lindy Jones, 41, was indicted and charged with gun possession.
Prosecutors said he was found with a “ghost gun” — meaning the serial number had been removed to prevent it from being traced — and it was believed he and the shooter were investigating a T-Mobile store.
The man who police say pulled the trigger, Guy Rivera, 34, is in stable condition in the hospital after being shot by the partner of victim officer Jonathan Diller, 31, during the shooting.
On the outskirts of town in Massapequa, Long Island, as Jones sat in court, about 1,000 officers lined the streets as Diller’s body was taken to the Massapequa Funeral Home.
Diller, a married father of a one-year-old boy, was reportedly shot and killed by Rivera during a traffic stop. The death has sparked a huge response from the police community, with NYPD Commissioner Edward Cavan branding him a “hero.”
Lindy Jones, 41, was indicted and charged with possession of a weapon in connection with the shooting of an NYPD officer
Prosecutors said he was found with a ‘ghost gun,’ meaning the serial number has been removed to prevent it from being traced
Hundreds of NYPD officers descended on the Queens courthouse on Wednesday to attend the arraignment
Jones was seen walking past Diller’s photo as he left the 101 precinct on Wednesday
Jonathan Diller, the young officer from Long Island, was only three years into his service and leaves behind a young widow
While Rivera was still in the hospital, Jones walked the perpetrator out of Queens Supreme Court on Wednesday shortly before his arraignment.
It was learned on Wednesday that Jones – who has a history of 14 arrests, including a 10-year prison sentence for attempted murder from 2003 – has refused to speak to detectives since his arrest on Tuesday evening.
Officials say Jones was behind the wheel of a car illegally parked in a bus lane, causing Diller and his partner to approach them shortly before 6 p.m. Monday.
After Rivera allegedly refused to roll down his window or show his hands, he opened fire on Diller, striking the young officer under his bulletproof vest.
After Diller’s partner returned fire, both Rivera and Diller were rushed to the hospital. The officer was later pronounced dead, while Jones remains in stable condition.
During the hearing Wednesday, prosecutors said Jones was charged with possession of a weapon and possession of a defaced firearm, meaning he used a ghost gun.
He was held without bail as officials cited Jones’ history of skipping court dates in the past.
Prosecutors said a search warrant was served on the vehicle where the shooting occurred, uncovering a second firearm.
Investigators believe Jones and Rivera had investigated a T-Mobile store before the shooting.
Horrifying surveillance footage captured the moment the young NYPD officer writhed in pain on the streets of New York after being shot.
In the new footage, three loud gunshots can be heard as bystanders flee for safety.
Diller is survived by a young widow, Stephanie, and a one-year-old son at his home on Long Island
Surveillance footage captured the moment Diller was fatally shot after approaching an illegally parked vehicle
Despite being shot, Diller heroically moved the gun away from the shooter after it fell to the ground, NYPD Chief Joseph Kenny said at a news conference.
In footage of the shooting, the quiet street was cleared within seconds when the shots rang out.
Witness Dean Peters said Diller broke out with cries of pain, adding: “He moved, he said, ‘I’ve been hit, I’ve been hit!’ Specify location and all that.
“Like he was crying, like he was really crying.”
Tributes poured in for Diller after his sudden death, when he left behind his wife and young son.
“Tonight this city lost a hero, a woman lost her husband and a young child lost his father,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban wrote on X.
“We struggle to find the words to express the tragedy of losing one of our own. The work that Police Officer Jonathan Diller did every day to make this city safer will NEVER be forgotten.
“Our prayers are with his family, loved ones and brothers and sisters in blue.”
New York Mayor Eric Adams described the shooting as a “senseless act of violence” at a news conference outside Jamaica Hospital.
“I can’t say it any clearer: It’s the good guys versus the bad guys, and these bad guys are violent,” added Adams, a former cop.
After Rivera’s arrest, it emerged that he has a lengthy criminal history, including first-degree robbery, illegal possession of weapons and assault.
Neighbors heard shots ring out at 5:50 p.m., less than two blocks from the NYPD’s 101st Precinct station, before seeing the fatally wounded officer lying in the street
Diller and a colleague worked in Far Rockaway as part of the NYPD Critical Response Team that focused on auto crime
He had 21 previous arrests and previously served five years in prison on drug charges before being released on parole in 2021.
Rivera also served time from 2011 to 2014 on a first-degree assault charge.
Jones had previously had 14 arrests, including a conviction for attempted murder and robbery in 2003, which saw him serve 10 years behind bars.
He had been arrested last April on firearms charges but was released on $75,000 bail, bringing him back to court on Monday.
Following Jones’ arrest in April, in which he was caught with a loaded firearm, Mayor Adams said he was a prime example of a “recidivism problem” – that is, a small number of offenders committing a large number of crimes.
“The same bad people do bad things to good people,” Adams added.