By Forum Staff
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Tuesday that Lindy Jones has been arraigned on an indictment charging him for his role in the fatal shooting of City Police Det. Jonathan Diller last month in Far Rockaway. Jones was the driver of the vehicle and a court-ordered search warrant revealed there was a 9 mm pistol in the car’s glove compartment, which was in addition to the weapon used to shoot Diller.
Jones, 41, of Edgemere, was charged with two counts each of criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees.
Jones’ codefendant, Guy Rivera, 34, whose last known address is in Woodside, has been indicted on charges of murder in the first and second degrees, attempted murder in the first and second degrees, four counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree for the homicide and attempted homicide of police officers.
According to the charges and statements made in court:
On March 25, at approximately 5:45 p.m., an officer on patrol in Far Rockaway saw Rivera with what looked like a gun in the front pocket of his sweatshirt, as he exited a store with Jones. Rivera and Jones then got into a 2016 Kia Soul parked in front of 19-19 Mott Ave., with Jones in the driver’s seat.
Diller and other officers approached the car and repeatedly asked Rivera to roll down his window before they were able to open the car door. Rivera then removed a gun from his clothing and shot Diller. The officer was struck in the stomach.
After shooting the officer, Rivera aimed his gun at Sgt. Sasha Rosen, who was with Diller. Rosen used his hand to direct the gun away from his body. Rivera’s finger remained on the trigger as he tried to point the .380-caliber pistol back toward the sergeant.
The gun was loaded but jammed following the initial shot and was unable to shoot additional rounds.
Diller was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center where he died from his injuries.
On March 26, as part of an ongoing investigation, members of the Queens District Attorney’s Office and the 101st Police Precinct obtained a court-authorized search warrant for the vehicle.
The execution of the warrant led to the discovery of a loaded 9 mm pistol inside the glove compartment. The firearm was found to be defaced, with the serial number scratched off.
A review of Jones’ arrest record indicated a prior attempted murder conviction in 2002, elevating one of the present charges against him to criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, up from criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Jones faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the current charges, in addition to 15 years on a separate open weapon case from April 2023; both terms would be served consecutively.
If convicted, Rivera faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
