Lindy Jones: Criminal indicted in NYPD cop Jonathan Diller’s death told cops ‘I shoot people’ amid arrest
QUEENS, NEW YORK: When two career criminals were indicted in the death of heroic NYPD police officer Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop, more than 200 of New York's finest crowded into a Queens courtroom on Monday, April 1.
Prosecutors revealed that the driver had confessed during arrest, "I shoot people."
Despite being charged with four counts of felony gun possession, Lindy Jones, the driver of the Kia Soul that police stopped after his passenger Guy Rivera allegedly opened fire on Jonathan Diller last week, remained emotionless.
Guy Rivera faces several charges of murder
The indictment "relates to a.9mm pistol recovered from the glove compartment of a Kia Soul," according to Assistant District Attorney Gabriel Reale.
“That Kia Soul was the car that the defendant was driving when his passenger, his now-co-defendant, Guy Rivera, pulled a second .380-caliber firearm and fired, killing police officer – and now, posthumously, detective – Jonathan Diller,” the indictment states.
Rivera was charged with first- and second-degree murder, attempted murder, and felony gun possession. Rivera was not present in court and is still being treated for a gunshot wound, the New York Post reported.
“We live in a society where shooting a police officer needs to be held accountable,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said outside the courthouse.
Katz further added, “This is a man who died simply for doing his job. He was a father, he was a son, he was a brother. He went out to do his job one day and never came home."
Following the shooting, a 9 mm handgun was allegedly discovered in Jones' car's glove compartment, according to prosecutors. Jones is also accused of telling police, “My name is Lindy Jones Jr and I shoot people.”
Lindy Jones faces upto 30 years in state prison
Lindy Jones, 41, also known by his street name "Killa", has a criminal record that includes at least 14 arrests for robbery, assault, and attempted murder in a 2001 case where he allegedly shot a man thrice.
He faces up to 30 years in state prison due to his alleged role in Diller's avoidable death.
“My office quoted him saying, ‘I shoot people,’ and that is one reason we do believe he is an amazing flight risk,” DA Katz said, before adding, “He made it very clear that this is what he does — he shoots people.”
Rivera, 34, is another seasoned criminal with 21 busts to his credit. He was convicted of a drug offense and served five years in state prison before being released in 2021 and serving out his parole in 2022.
Diller, a married father of a one-year-old child, was shot below his bulletproof vest while he was questioning Jones and Rivera, according to the police, after he noticed their vehicle parked at a Far Rockaway bus stop.
Sources claimed that while the accused killer and Jonathan Diller's partner engaged in a life-or-death struggle over the murder weapon, the young police officer, who was critically injured, grabbed Rivera's gun. Rivera was injured in the scuffle.
After being placed under arrest, Jones was charged with possession of weapons. At the time, he was free on a $75,000 bond related to an earlier gun possession charge. According to Reale, those two cases will now be combined.
“This is a career criminal who’s been arrested many, many times, and less than a year ago was arrested for an illegal firearm,” NYPD Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said of Jones.
“Why was he back out on the streets? He should have been remanded. And last Monday, in his car he had another illegal firearm. He is just as responsible for the death of our hero brother as the triggerman," he said.
“Our criminal justice system is broken. We said it many times. The change needs to start now in this case. It has to start now,” Hendry added.
Guy Rivera and Lindy Jones were suspected of planning a robbery
According to police sources, Diller became suspicious of Rivera and Jones after they were seen parked in front of a cell phone store for at least ten minutes, possibly planning a robbery.
Jones attempted to avoid responsibility by stating that Rivera was a hitchhiker he had recently picked up. “There is another gun in the car,” he allegedly told cops from the 101st Precinct, according to prosecutors. “I think they found it. That’s why I’m here.”
Judge Gia Morris remanded Jones, who was dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, into custody at Rikers Island on Monday. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment on April 16. His lawyer Murray Singer remained silent.
Rivera's court appearance has been set for May 7.
Diller, a three-year veteran of in the NYPD, was buried this past weekend in Massapequa after funeral services that drew hundreds of uniformed police officers from across the country and featured a visit from former president Donald Trump.
The wife of the deceased police officer criticized local and state politicians during a tearful eulogy for their inability to protect police officers and keep violent offenders like Rivera and Jones off the streets.
“It’s been two years and two months since Detective Rivera and Detective Mora made the ultimate sacrifice — just like my husband Jonathan Diller,” Stephanie Diller told mourners.
“Dominque Rivera stood before all the elected officials present today pleading for change. That change never came,” she said, before adding, “And now my son will grow up without his father, and I will grow old without my husband. And his parents have to say goodbye to their child."
Diller is survived by his wife and the couple's son, Ryan.
