Prosecutors turn over police video, documents to defense representing suspect in fatal shooting of NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller, officials say

Twenty-five police body camera videos recorded the day NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller  was fatally shot earlier this year were among documents and other items which have been turned over to defense attorneys representing the man accused in his killing, officials disclosed Tuesday.

In addition to the police videos, prosecutors said during a brief hearing in Queens State Supreme Court that they turned over about 1,000 pages of documents to the attorneys defending Guy Rivera, the 34 year-old accused of killing Diller during a street encounter on March 25.

State Supreme Court Judge Michael Aloise said Tuesday morning that he expected to set a schedule for pretrial hearings after the grand jury minutes are turned over to the defense in a few weeks. Aloise set Dec. 3 for the next court appearance.

Rivera appeared in the courtroom, as well as about 15 NYPD officers.

Rivera, of Woodside, Queens, was indicted on charges of intentional murder, first-degree murder of a police officer and other charges stemming from the shooting during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway. Police said a round fired by Rivera traveled under Diller’s protective vest and hit him in the abdomen.

According to investigators, Diller, 31, of Massapequa Park, was on patrol when he and his partner spotted Rivera acting suspiciously as he sat in a Kia Soul. Diller approached the car because he suspected Rivera had a handgun in his sweatshirt and ordered him out the vehicle, police said. Rivera resisted and fired at Diller, police said.

"I’m shot," Diller could be heard saying on police body camera footage, officials said.

The driver of the Kia Soul, Lindy Jones, 41, was charged with weapons possession based on a handgun found in the car but has not been charged in Diller’s death. Jones’ case is being handled separately.

Diller, who left a wife, Stephanie, and 1-year-old son, Ryan, when he died, was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective.

Diller, a three-year veteran of the force, was the first NYPD officer killed in the line of duty since 2022.

Rivera was charged with first- and second-degree murder, first- and second-degree attempted murder, four counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in Diller's killing.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.