A Queens jury convicted Guy Rivera of manslaughter and attempted murder Wednesday after initially rejecting first-degree murder charges in the 2024 shooting death of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller. The verdict came only after a holdout juror forced deliberations to continue when the panel first announced its decision.

Dramatic Courtroom Reversal

Rivera faced conviction on aggravated manslaughter in the first degree, attempted murder for trying to shoot NYPD Sergeant Sasha Rosen, and two counts of criminal weapon possession. The jury initially declared a not-guilty verdict on the murder charge, but when court staff polled each juror individually, juror number five dissented. Judge Michael Aloise immediately sent the panel back to deliberate, telling them their verdict must be unanimous. After the jury asked how many more days they would need to deliberate and one juror requested to cancel an appointment, the judge replied there was no time limit and ordered them to continue. Hours later, they returned with a unanimous verdict.

Traffic Stop Turns Fatal

Prosecutors said Diller and his partner stopped Rivera’s vehicle illegally parked outside a Far Rockaway cell phone store in March 2024. When ordered to exit the vehicle, Rivera shot Diller before pointing his weapon at Sergeant Rosen’s chest and pulling the trigger. The gun jammed, preventing a second fatality. Diller wrestled the weapon away before collapsing on the street from his injuries. The detective had been called in on his scheduled day off while at a park with his wife Stephanie and young son. His final words to his wife were “I love you,” according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

Community Mourns Detective

District Attorney Katz emphasized that Diller was more than an officer. He was a father, husband, and son who put on his uniform daily to protect New York City. The crime not only killed a devoted officer and family man but endangered Sergeant Rosen’s life as well. The DA’s office expressed continued solidarity with Diller’s family, Sergeant Rosen, and all law enforcement officers serving the community. Stephanie Diller attended the trial surrounded by NYPD officers, showing the department’s support for one of their fallen brothers throughout the lengthy legal proceedings.