NYPD detective Jonathan Diller’s killer acquitted of murder, guilty of manslaughter

The man accused of fatally shooting NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop in Queens two years ago has been found not guilty of first-degree murder but guilty of manslaughter and other charges.

Guy Rivera was convicted Wednesday of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, attempted first-degree murder for attempting to shoot an NYPD sergeant who also attended the scene and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was acquitted of first degree murder.

Earlier Wednesday, the jury said it had reached a verdict, but was sent back for further deliberations after one juror told the court the decision was not unanimous.

The foreman told the judge at the time that they reached a not guilty verdict on the first-degree murder charge, but found Rivera guilty of the rest of the charges against him. But when the court clerk questioned jurors one by one to confirm they agreed with the verdict, Juror No. 5 said he disagreed, according to the New York Post.

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Guy Rivera was found not guilty of first-degree murder, but guilty of involuntary manslaughter and other charges. (Dave Sanders/Pool/New York Times; NYPD)

“As I told you, the jurors, your verdict must be unanimous. Please come back and deliberate,” Judge Michael Aloise told the jury, the outlet reported.

Shortly afterward, a few notes were sent by the jury — one asking how many days they would have to deliberate if they were unable to reach a verdict that day and another in which a juror said she had to make a phone call to cancel an appointment.

“There is no time limit, continue to deliberate,” the judge told them.

Later Wednesday, the jury returned and agreed on the verdict.

Guy Rivera shot and killed NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop in Queens in 2024. (Fox News)

Authorities said Diller and his partner, Sergeant Sasha Rosen, stopped an illegally parked vehicle outside a cell phone store in Far Rockaway in March 2024. Prosecutors said Rivera then shot and killed Diller after being ordered to exit the vehicle.

After shooting Diller, Rivera pointed his gun at Rosen’s chest and pulled the trigger, but the gun jammed, prosecutors said. Diller pushed the gun out of his hand before collapsing in the street from his injuries.

Rivera was also shot twice during the encounter.

Diller was supposed to be off work the day of the murder. He was in a park with his wife and young son when he was called.

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Widow Stephanie Diller is seen at the funeral of New York City Police Officer Jonathan Diller held at Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa Park, New York on March 30, 2024. (Live image for Fox News Digital)

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“The last words Detective Jonathan Diller said to his wife were ‘I love you,'” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “Detective Diller was a father, husband and son. He was also a dedicated member of the NYPD who put on a uniform every day to protect our city.”

“This crime stole the life of a dedicated officer and family man and endangered the life of a dedicated New York Police Department sergeant,” the statement added. “We stand in solidarity with the loved ones of Detective Diller, Sergeant Sasha Rosen and all the brave men and women who protect our city.”