Driver involved in NYPD officer killing is hit with gun charges: police

Published Mar 27, 2024 at 12:46 p.m. ET

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Published Mar 27, 2024 at 12:46 p.m. ET

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NYPD officials on Wednesday announced charges against Lindy Jones, 41, the alleged driver of the parked car police were investigating in Far Rockaway, Queens, when Officer Jonathan Diller was shot and killed on Monday night.

Jones was charged with criminal weapons possession and defacing a weapon, which could stem from an act like scrubbing a serial number off of a gun, according to officials. He had been in police custody since the incident.

His arraignment in Queens Criminal Court was pending, and information for his attorney was not immediately available.

The man police have identified as the shooter, 34-year-old Guy Rivera, was still in stable condition in the hospital on Wednesday, after surgery for a bullet wound he sustained from Diller’s partner, an NYPD spokesperson said.

Police said Rivera, who was a passenger in the car, could not be charged until he left the hospital.

Rivera’s mother told Gothamist on Tuesday that she was still trying to piece together what had happened and how her son was involved. She said she didn’t know Jones and wasn’t sure what he and Rivera were doing in Far Rockaway at the time of the incident.

Diller, 31, was part of the Queens South Community Response team, tasked with cracking down on quality-of-life crimes, including illegal moped activity. The team also takes guns and drugs off the street, according to the NYPD.

Immediately before the shooting, Diller and his partner stopped to investigate Jones and Rivera as they sat in an illegally parked car in front of 1919 Mott Ave., police said. When the officers approached the car, Rivera allegedly pointed a gun at them and they exchanged fire. Officials said Diller was shot in the torso under his bullet-resistant vest.

The Police Benevolent Association, the city’s largest police union, confirmed that a memorial march for Diller would be held on Staten Island on Friday morning.

His funeral mass was scheduled for Saturday at St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa, Long Island, where he lived with his wife and 1-year-old son.

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Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at bkriegstein@nypublicradio.org.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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