A police officer noticed the person accused of killing Detective Jonathan Diller carrying what seemed to be a gun earlier than the confrontation that led to the deadly taking pictures final week, in line with new particulars launched by the Queens district legal professional.
The officer, who was on patrol within the Far Rockaway part of Queens and has not been recognized by the authorities, observed that the person, Man Rivera, had the gun within the entrance pocket of his sweatshirt, the district legal professional, Melinda Katz, mentioned in an indictment on Monday.
After Mr. Rivera stepped into the passenger aspect of a automotive, Detective Diller, who was promoted posthumously, and different officers approached the car, prosecutors mentioned. They requested Mr. Rivera a number of instances to roll down his window earlier than they managed to get the automotive door open, in line with the indictment.
Mr. Rivera then took out the gun and shot Detective Diller within the abdomen at virtually point-blank vary, Ms. Katz mentioned in an announcement. Mr. Rivera has been charged with first-degree homicide.
The small print present a attainable new rationalization for why the officers went as much as the car. Officers had beforehand mentioned that the officers had approached Mr. Rivera and the motive force, Lindy Jones, as a result of they had been illegally parked at a bus cease.
Mr. Rivera, 34, was additionally charged with tried homicide for trying to fireplace his gun at one other police officer after taking pictures Detective Diller.
Each Mr. Rivera and Mr. Jones had been indicted on weapons possession prices, officers mentioned. Investigators found a second gun within the automotive, in line with courtroom paperwork.
The loss of life of Detective Diller despatched shock waves all through town. His wake and funeral in Lengthy Island drew hundreds of individuals, together with members of regulation enforcement, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and former President Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee on this 12 months’s presidential race.
Mayor Adams, a former police captain, spoke on the funeral. “I’m you,” he advised the assembled officers. “I do know what it’s wish to don a bulletproof vest.”
Mr. Rivera, who in line with the authorities has 21 prior arrests, fired on Detective Diller on Mott Avenue close to the nook of Seaside nineteenth Avenue in Far Rockaway round 5:40 p.m. on March 25, in line with the indictment.
Mr. Rivera shot Detective Diller by the automotive window, slightly below his protecting vest, then aimed his gun at a sergeant, Sasha Rosen, who had additionally approached the car, the indictment mentioned. However the gun jammed, stopping Mr. Rivera from firing one other spherical.
Detective Diller’s companion, Officer Veckash Khedna, returned hearth and shot Mr. Rivera within the again.
Detective Diller was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Middle, the place he died. Mr. Rivera was arraigned final week from the identical hospital, the place he was nonetheless being handled for his accidents.
The Queens district legal professional and detectives obtained a warrant to look the car. They found a loaded 9-millimeter pistol within the glove compartment, officers mentioned.
The opposite man within the automotive, Mr. Jones, 41, was arrested on a gun cost final 12 months and had hung out in jail for first-degree theft and tried homicide, in line with the police and State Corrections Division information.