Suspect accused in fatal shooting of NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller pleads not guilty
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- The man accused of fatally shooting NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller appeared in court Tuesday where he pleaded not guilty.
Guy Rivera, 34, was indicted on first-degree murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon charges in the fatal shooting of Diller.
He faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. He remains remanded into custody and will return to court on July 22.
Prosecutors revealed Tuesday that Rivera was hiding a small knife in his rectal area when he was taken into custody.
The shooting happened in Far Rockaway, Queens, during a traffic stop on March 25.
Police say Rivera was in the passenger seat of a car when he pulled a gun and shot Diller, 31, through the window. He was shot in the back by Diller's partner.
Prosecutors said he then "attempted to cause the death of Sgt. Sasha Rosen" by shooting again but his gun jammed.
"The City of New York needs to know and understand that those that go after our law enforcement or those that commit these types of crimes period - will be held accountable," said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
It was the first time that Diller's wife and family got to see Rivera in court because he had been recovering in the hospital.
The Diller family and his extended family in blue packed the courtroom.
"This family is going through a living nightmare that no family should have to go through," said PBA President Patrick Hendry.
Rivera has 21 prior arrests and has served time for assault, robbery and possession of a controlled substance.
"This vicious individual wasn't afraid to prey on New Yorkers because nothing happened to him, he was arrested a dozen times, in and out of prison, back on the streets," Hendry said.
A second suspect, 41-year-old Lindy Jones, was arraigned last month on charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees. He was remanded into custody and faces up to 30 years in prison. He is due back in court on June 12.
Diller was the first New York City police officer killed in the line of duty in two years.
Diller was promoted to Detective First Grade posthumously. His new shield number is 110, his young son's birthday.
A GoFundMe page for the officer's family has raised more than $1 million and the Tunnels to Towers Foundation had announced it would pay off the mortgage of Diller's home.
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