Defendant sentenced to maximum 115 years after killing NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller
OAN Staff Lillian Mann
2:20 PM – Tuesday, April 28, 2026
36-year-old defendant Guy Rivera was sentenced to 115 years to life in prison for the 2024 fatal shooting of New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens.
The sentencing took place in a courtroom packed with uniformed officers and the Diller family. In a stern address to the defendant, Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise remarked that Rivera “most certainly will” die in prison, a statement punctuated by the judge’s decision to run the sentences for all four counts consecutively.
Earlier this month, a jury had convicted Rivera of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, first-degree attempted murder, for attempting to shoot Diller’s partner, Sergeant Sasha Rosen, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
The 115-year term, the absolute maximum allowed by law, follows an April 1st verdict in which the jury acquitted Rivera of the top charge of first-degree murder.
That acquittal, which hinged on whether Rivera knew his targets were police officers at the moment he fired, drew sharp criticism and “pushback” from law enforcement officials who viewed the act as a targeted execution of a public servant.
Despite the acquittal on the murder charge, the consecutive sentencing for the attempted murder and weapons charges ensured that Rivera would never again see freedom.
“Your sentence to me was determined the second you pulled that trigger,” Judge Michael Aloise told Rivera. “It took me five minutes to calculate the numbers. It’s going to take you a lifetime to calculate the damage you caused.”
The fatal encounter began on March 25, 2024, while Diller and his team were patrolling the Far Rockaway section of Queens. Officers approached a parked vehicle after noticing an L-shaped object — indicative of a firearm — concealed in Rivera’s sweatshirt as he entered the passenger side.
During the ensuing questioning of the driver, Rivera suddenly brandished a handgun and fired a single shot, striking Diller just below his bulletproof vest. Prosecutors argued that Rivera opened fire in a deliberate attempt to evade arrest before turning his weapon on Diller’s partner, Sergeant Sasha Rosen.
However, a potential second tragedy was averted when Rivera’s gun jammed. In the frantic moments following the initial shot, another officer returned fire, wounding Rivera and ending the confrontation.
While the jury ultimately found that Rivera had intentionally pulled the trigger, they acquitted him of first-degree murder, concluding there was insufficient evidence that he intended to kill Diller or specifically knew he was an officer at the moment of the shooting.
Nevertheless, prosecutors successfully argued for the maximum penalty, describing Rivera as a “persistent felon” with a lengthy criminal history who made a “calculated, deliberate, and evil choice” to deploy lethal violence.
Rivera declined to address the court during his sentencing on the advice of his attorney, Jamal Johnson, who maintained the defense’s theory that the weapon discharged accidentally as officers attempted to wrestle it from Rivera’s pocket.
Detective Diller was the first NYPD officer killed in the line of duty in two years, and his death resonated far beyond the city limits. His wake and funeral on Long Island drew thousands of mourners, including now-President Donald Trump, who made the case a focal point of his 2024 “law and order” campaign.
During a March 2025 address to a joint session of Congress, Trump honored the fallen officer, describing him as an “unbelievably wonderful person and a great officer.” By sentencing Rivera to 115 years to life, the court ensured that the man responsible for ending Diller’s promising career and life would remain behind bars for the rest of his natural life.
“The jury should have been permitted to consider whether Mr. Rivera’s actions were reckless and negligent…. That option was taken away from the jury, leading them to decide only whether his actions were intentional,” Johnson told the judge, arguing that Rivera was “not a murderer.”
“The fact that the court stated it had already made up its mind about sentencing well before the trial was conducted reveals the bias and uphill battle the defense faced throughout this case,” he added.
The claim, however, was ultimately rejected in the manslaughter conviction. He pleaded with the judge not to issue a “sensational” sentence and claimed that Rivera did not receive a fair trial. Johnson added that he intended to appeal his client’s conviction in a statement after the court hearing.
“This was not an accident,” Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Zawistowski said. “We ask that you honor Jonathan’s life. We ask that you honor his sacrifice.”
During the sentencing hearing, Diller’s wife, Stephanie, delivered a poignant victim impact statement, telling the court that she and the couple’s son, Ryan, now 3, had essentially been handed a life sentence of their own.
Directly addressing Rivera, she spoke of the permanent void left by his violence, stating, “Your actions that day cannot be undone. Your actions that day gave me a life sentence without him.” Her testimony showed the enduring grief of a family forced to navigate a future without a husband and father, even as the legal system finalized its judgment against his killer.
“You took my husband and the life we were building. In a single moment, everything that was my life was gone,” she added. “I wanted a lifetime with him. I did not get to hold his hand. I did not get to say goodbye. I did not get to give him the love and the peace he deserved in his final moments.”
Stephanie also explained that, despite her own experience, she did not consider herself the biggest victim of the incident.
“The person who lost the most is our son Ryan,” she said. “He will grow up without the love of his father.”
“Mr. Rivera, only you know what was in your heart that day,” Stephanie added. “One day, you will stand before God and answer for what you did to Jonathan.”
Fran Diller, the officer’s mother, also added that she is consumed with her son’s death every day.
“He had a future so incredibly bright,” she said. “My world has been completely shattered. Everything feels empty without him. All I feel is unbearable ache.”
In the wake of the sentencing, Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry expressed strong confidence that both the conviction and the 115-year term would withstand any legal challenges. Speaking to the media, Hendry noted his firm belief that the court’s decision would be affirmed on appeal, ensuring that Rivera remains behind bars for the remainder of his life.
“We know that the verdict in this case did not send the right message to the Diller family and every police officer who wears the uniform. It made us all second-guess everything about our criminal justice system which we count on when we’re putting our lives on the line,” Hendry said. “But this sentence, it sent the right message.”
Lindy Jones, the driver of the vehicle during the fatal encounter, is scheduled to return to court this Tuesday as he awaits trial on related weapons possession charges. If convicted, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for his role in the incident.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news alerts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
What do YOU think? Click here to jump to the comments!
Sponsored Content Below
Advertising by Adpathway
