Man convicted of killing NYPD detective sentenced to 115 years to life in prison

Added: 2026-05-05

[00:00:00]The convicted killer of NYPD detective Jonathan Diller has learned his fate.

[00:00:04]Guy Rivera was sentenced today to 115 years to life behind bars. Christina Fan is live at the courthouse where Diller's grieving widow spoke directly to her husband's killer. Christina, >> well Cindy, behind us you can see a small fraction the dozens of officers who came out to support Detective Jonathan Diller's family. As you stated, both his wife as well as his mother gave emotional victim impact statements in court describing how their lives were just ripped apart and implored the judge to hand down the maximum possible sentence. A few moments ago, a judge did agree and sentence 36-year-old Rivera to 115 years to life in prison for the 2024 shooting death of NYPD detective Jonathan Diller, saying, quote, "It took me five minutes to calculate these numbers. It is going to take you a lifetime to calculate the grief you caused them. Rivera declined to make a statement before the sentencing, staring blankly ahead through most of the proceeding, not making eye contact with prosecutors or the victim's family.

[00:01:09]While addressing the court dealer's widow, Stephanie said no sentence will ever bring her husband back, but it does signify what Jonathan's life meant.

[00:01:18]>> I stand here speaking directly to you because this is the last moment I will allow you to take from me.

[00:01:25]You took my husband, Jonathan. You took the future we planned together, the life we were building, the years we were supposed to share, and the moments our family will never get back.

[00:01:37]>> Your honor, this was not an accident, but rather a calculated, deliberate, and evil choice made by the defendant.

[00:01:44]>> 115 years to life in jail means that there is justice for the Diller family.

[00:01:52]Diller, who was an officer and postumously promoted to detective, was conducting a routine traffic stop on an illegally parked vehicle in Far Rockaway in 2024 when Rivera, who was in the passenger seat, opened fire, striking him. Prosecutors argued Rivera was ready and willing to kill while the defense claimed the gun went off accidentally during a struggle. After eight hours of deliberating earlier this month, the jury found Rivera guilty of firstdegree aggravated manslaughter and attempted murder, but he was acquitted on the most serious charge of firstdegree murder.

[00:02:28]His defense team today says they intend to appeal and that Rivera, their client, did not get a fair trial. Reporting live from Q Gardens, Queens, Christina Fan, CBS News, New