Lindy Jones, 43, received a five-year prison sentence on Wednesday for his role in the March 25, 2024, shooting death of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller. Jones pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge in Queens Supreme Court.
"No sentence will bring back Jonathan," stated NYPD PBA president Patrick Hendry. "The pain will never go away for this family. But there’s some comfort in this individual staying in jail where he belongs."
Jones was driving a vehicle approached by Diller and his partners in Far Rockaway when Guy Rivera, identified as the shooter, opened fire on the officers. Detective Diller, a married father, was fatally wounded. Jones was arrested at the scene.
Police recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from the glove compartment. Jones was charged with four counts of felony gun possession and ultimately pleaded guilty to one count. Jones' lawyer argued for a 3½-year sentence, noting the weapon in the car was not fired, but Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky imposed the five-year sentence.
Prior to this incident, Jones had at least 14 arrests, including charges for robbery and assault. Rivera was acquitted of the top murder charge by a Queens jury but was found guilty of manslaughter, attempted murder of NYPD Sgt. Sasha Rosen, and weapons possession. He was sentenced in April to 115 years to life in prison.
At Rivera's sentencing, Detective Diller's widow, Stephanie Diller, addressed the court, saying, "One day you will stand before God and answer for what you did to Jonathan. You have given us a life sentence without him."
Approximately three dozen NYPD officers were present in the courtroom for Wednesday's proceedings, with Diller's mother also in attendance. Jones' uncle, Michael Jackson, 67, told reporters outside the courthouse that he believed his nephew had served sufficient time since his arrest and questioned his decision not to go to trial. "He made a bad decision," Jackson said. "He made a bad decision."