By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• The trial has begun in Queens, New York, for Guy Rivera, who is accused of fatally shooting NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller during a March 25, 2024, encounter.
• Rivera, 35, has pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree murder, attempted murder and criminal weapon possession charges.
• Prosecutors are presenting evidence including body-worn camera footage, and jurors heard opening statements on March 10, 2026.
• Rivera faces up to life in prison without parole if convicted on the top charges.
QUEENS, NY — The murder trial began Tuesday for Guy Rivera, the man accused of fatally shooting New York City Police Department Detective Jonathan Diller during a March 2024 confrontation in the Far Rockaway section of Queens.
Rivera, 35, has pleaded not guilty to first- and second-degree murder charges, as well as attempted murder of a police officer and criminal weapons possession, officials said.
Opening statements and early testimony in Queens Supreme Court included prosecutor presentations of body-worn camera footage and accounts of the events that led to the shooting, according to court coverage.
Prosecutors told jurors that Rivera pointed a firearm at Diller and fired during a police approach to a parked vehicle, striking the 31-year-old officer, who later died at a hospital. Defense attorneys countered that the shooting occurred amid a struggle and was not intentional.
Rivera faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted on the most serious charges, court filings show.
The proceedings are expected to continue over the coming weeks as both sides present evidence and witness testimony to the jury.