Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict in Guy Rivera Case for Fatal Shooting of NYPD Detective Diller
A New York City jury has delivered a verdict in the case of Guy Rivera, finding him guilty of aggravated manslaughter in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fatal shooting of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller. Rivera was also convicted of attempted murder in the first degree regarding NYPD Sergeant Sasha Rosen, but found not guilty of murder. Sentencing is scheduled for April 27, where Rivera faces a potential prison term of up to 90 years.
Guy Rivera found guilty of aggravated manslaughter and attempted murder in the shooting of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller and Sergeant Sasha Rosen, facing up to 90 years in prison.
Verdict and Upcoming Sentencing
On April 1, after approximately eight hours of deliberation, a New York City jury found Guy Rivera, 36, guilty of aggravated manslaughter in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon. The verdict pertains to the shooting of 31-year-old Detective Jonathan Diller in Far Rockaway, Queens, in 2024, which resulted in Diller's death.
Rivera was also convicted of attempted murder in the first degree for attempting to shoot NYPD Sergeant Sasha Rosen, who was present during the incident. Notably, Rivera was found not guilty of murder.
Sentencing for Rivera is scheduled for April 27. He faces a potential sentence of up to 90 years in prison. Victim impact statements are anticipated at the sentencing hearing.
Trial Proceedings Overview
The trial commenced on March 10 and concluded with closing arguments on March 31. Rivera had pleaded not guilty to charges including first-degree murder of a police officer, attempted murder, and criminal possession of a weapon.
During the proceedings, jurors reviewed body camera footage of the incident and heard various testimonies, including from Detective Diller's widow. Defense attorneys argued that the discharge of Rivera's gun was unintentional, claiming that Sergeant Rosen's actions, specifically grabbing Rivera's wrist, caused the weapon to fire. Sergeant Rosen denied these allegations in court.
The jury initially returned a verdict on April 1, but a single juror's disagreement required further deliberation. The jury subsequently confirmed the same unanimous verdict after additional deliberation. Dozens of police officers attended the court hearings throughout the trial.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on March 25, 2024. Prosecutors stated that Detective Diller was with other members of the NYPD's Community Response team. Reports varied regarding his status, with some sources stating he was on duty, and others indicating he was on his day off but called in to address violence and robbery concerns near the Mott Avenue train station.
According to prosecutors, Rivera was observed with what appeared to be a gun in his hoodie pocket before entering a car with Lindy Jones. After officers initiated a stop and Rivera was pulled from the vehicle, he allegedly shot Diller in the torso, below his bullet-resistant vest. Detective Diller died from his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
Prosecutors further stated that Rivera pointed the weapon at Sergeant Rosen after shooting Diller, but the firearm jammed. Rivera was subsequently shot twice by police during the incident.
Related Information
Detective Jonathan Diller, a husband and father residing on Long Island, was posthumously promoted to detective. His funeral in Massapequa was attended by hundreds of police officers, and former President Trump visited Diller's wife.
Lindy Jones, the other individual in the car, was arraigned on weapon possession charges in 2024 and remains in custody. He is scheduled to return to court on April 7 and could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.