Man in custody after fatal shooting of NYPD officer during traffic stop: Reports

A suspect is in custody in connection to the fatal shooting of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop in Queens on Monday.

According to the New York Times, the man in custody, Guy Rivera, 34, was sitting in the front seat of an SUV that was illegally parked in Far Rockaway around 5:48 p.m. Monday when Diller and his partner approached the vehicle.

As they approached the vehicle, Rivera displayed a gun and fired it through the passenger window. The bullet struck Diller in the torso underneath his bullet-resistant vest, police said, and he later died at Jamaica Hospital.

The New York Times, citing an internal police department report, reports that Diller's partner, Veckash Khedna, returned fire and shot Rivera in the back. The news outlet also reports the second man in the vehicle, Lindy Jones, 41, was taken into custody after shooting but has not been arrested or charged.

Police said Monday evening that Rivera was also taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was said to be in stable condition.

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Rivera refused to get out of car when asked, police say

"He was given a lawful order numerous times to step out of the car. He refused. When the officer took him out of the car, instead of stepping out of the car, he shot our officer," NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a news conference Monday night.

"It's because of a senseless act of violence that we witness a person had a total disregard for the safety of this city," Mayor Adams said at a news conference Monday evening. "It is the good guys against the bad guys and these bad guys are violent. They carry guns and the symbol of our public safety, which is police uniform, they have a total disregard for," Adams said.

"Tonight this city lost a hero, a wife lost her husband, and a young child lost their father," Police Commissioner Edward Caban said on social media. "We struggle to find the words to express the tragedy of losing one of our own. The work that police officer Jonathan Diller did each day to make this city a safer place will NEVER be forgotten," Caban said on X.

"Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, and brothers and sisters in blue," Caban concluded.

The NYPD said Diller made more than 70 arrests during his time on the force. Diller leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, and their child.

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].