A man allegedly shot and killed NYPD officer Jonathan Diller during a traffic stop in Queens, marking the first slaying of an NYPD officer in two years. The suspect, a 34-year-old man who has not been identified, was shot in the back but is expected to survive. Diller, a three-year member of the force assigned to the Community Response Team, was shot in the torso despite wearing a bulletproof vest. The suspect dropped the gun and was struck by return fire from Diller’s partner. Diller later died from his injuries at the hospital.
The incident occurred when Diller and another officer approached a vehicle that was illegally parked at a bus stop. The passenger in the vehicle stepped out with a gun and fired at the officers, hitting Diller underneath his bulletproof vest. Despite the tragedy, the driver of the vehicle was not involved in the shooting and was taken into custody at the scene. The second officer involved in the incident was treated at a hospital for Tinnitus but was not physically wounded during the gunfight. A firearm was recovered at the scene, and the shooting occurred outside City Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers’ office.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences for the loss of Officer Diller, emphasizing his senseless death at the hands of an individual who showed no regard for the safety of the city. The suspect’s actions resulted in the tragic loss of a husband, son, and dedicated police officer. The driver of the car involved in the incident had prior arrests, including gun charges in April 2023, but was not the individual who fired the shots. Adams highlighted the pain and grief felt by the city and the NYPD at the loss of one of their own.
Video footage from the scene showed a car with a bullet hole in the passenger side door, underscoring the violence of the situation. The NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban acknowledged the outpouring of emotions, including anger, grief, and pain, but emphasized the support and thoughts for Officer Diller’s family, colleagues, and the entire NYPD. Diller, who had received four department recognitions during his three years with the force, was remembered as a valuable member of the department who tragically lost his life in the line of duty. Charges are pending against the suspect, who is expected to face consequences for his actions that resulted in the death of Officer Diller.
