Internet lauds Dave Portnoy’s ‘nice gesture’ as he raises $1.5M for slain cop Jonathan Diller’s family

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In a heartwarming display of generosity and support for law enforcement, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has captured the internet's admiration by raising a staggering $1.5 million for the family of slain NYPD officer Jonathan Diller.

Portnoy's pledge to match all donations made through his platform struck a chord with fans, who rallied behind the cause in droves, propelling the fundraising efforts to unprecedented heights, as per New York Post.

NYPD officer Jonathan Diller fatally shot during routine traffic stop

The tragic incident occurred on Monday night, March 25, when Diller, a 31-year-old officer, was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop in Queens. The encounter quickly escalated into a shootout with Guy Rivera, 34, an alleged career criminal with a lengthy criminal history, leaving Diller mortally wounded despite wearing a protective vest.

Moved by the heartbreaking story, Portnoy took to social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok to make an impassioned plea for donations. In a video, he recounted the harrowing events, expressing his deep sorrow over the senseless loss of life and the devastating impact on Diller's wife, Stephanie, and their 1-year-old son.

"I'm sure everybody has seen the story. Tragic. The New York City cop, Jonathan Diller, who was murdered," Portnoy said in the video. "Routine traffic stop, pulled over two guys, a million priors, been in and out of jail a million times and they just open fire on him, basically."

Dave Portnoy matched all funds raised for Jonathan Diller's family

To amplify his efforts, Portnoy announced an extraordinary gesture – he vowed to match all the funds raised through midnight on the day of his appeal, effectively doubling the amount donated to Diller's family.

"On top of that whatever we sell, whatever we make at the end of day today, at midnight, I am just going to match it so double up on whatever we can make," he said.

The response to Portnoy's call for support was overwhelming. Within hours, the donations poured in, with individuals from all walks of life contributing to the cause. By the end of the day, Portnoy had raised $750,000, which he then matched, bringing the total amount raised to a staggering $1.5 million.

"Thanks to everybody who donated. We raised 750k. With the matching of the funds that brings the total to 1.5 million that will go directly to the family," Portnoy wrote on X, expressing his gratitude for the outpouring of support.

Internet commends Dave Portnoy's fundraising efforts

Following the news of Portnoy's fundraising efforts, people online were swift to commend his actions.

One user on X remarked, "Say what you want about Portnoy, in my book he's alright."

Another user acknowledged Portnoy's direct contribution, stating, "And half of that came from him directly. Mensch."

Expressing gratitude for Portnoy's generosity, a third user wrote, "Thank you for your generosity."

Another user emphasized the significance of the gesture, stating, "This is commendable. Nice gesture. We need such positivity in our society. This heals the bereaved family."

The outpouring of appreciation continued, with a fifth user stating, "Love to see this thank you Dave."

Another user simply remarked, "That’s cool of him," while yet another added, "God Bless Dave Portnoy."

Among the responses, one user highlighted the impact of Portnoy's efforts, stating, "Did more in a day than anyone else for a hero."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.