A police officer noticed the person accused of killing Detective Jonathan Diller carrying what gave the impression to be a gun earlier than the confrontation that led to the deadly taking pictures final week, in keeping 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, seen 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 facet of a automobile, Detective Diller, who was promoted posthumously, and different officers approached the car, prosecutors mentioned. They requested Mr. Rivera a number of occasions to roll down his window earlier than they managed to get the automobile door open, in keeping with the indictment.
Mr. Rivera then took out the gun and shot Detective Diller within the abdomen at nearly point-blank vary, Ms. Katz mentioned in a press release. Mr. Rivera has been charged with first-degree homicide.
The small print present a doable new clarification for why the officers went as much as the car. Officers had beforehand mentioned that the officers had approached Mr. Rivera and the driving force, Lindy Jones, as a result of they have been illegally parked at a bus cease.
Mr. Rivera, 34, was additionally charged with tried homicide for making an attempt to fireside his gun at one other police officer after taking pictures Detective Diller.
Each Mr. Rivera and Mr. Jones have been indicted on weapons possession prices, officers mentioned. Investigators found a second gun within the automobile, in keeping with court docket paperwork.
The demise of Detective Diller despatched shock waves all through the 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 instructed the assembled officers. “I do know what it’s wish to don a bulletproof vest.”
Mr. Rivera, who in keeping with the authorities has 21 prior arrests, fired on Detective Diller on Mott Avenue close to the nook of Seaside nineteenth Road in Far Rockaway round 5:40 p.m. on March 25, in keeping with the indictment.
Mr. Rivera shot Detective Diller by way of the automobile 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 fireplace and shot Mr. Rivera within the again.
Detective Diller was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Heart, 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 automobile, 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 keeping with the police and State Corrections Division data.
