NEW YORK CITY, NY – A tragic event unfolded in New York City on Monday as a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop in the Far Rockaway section of Queens. This marks the first slaying of an NYPD officer in two years, leaving the city in mourning.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed the profound sorrow felt by the community, stating, “We lost one of our sons today and it is extremely painful. It is extremely painful.” The shooting occurred just before 5:50 p.m. when Officer Jonathan Diller and his partner approached a vehicle illegally parked at a bus stop.
According to Police Commissioner Edward Caban, as the officers tried to order the occupants out of the vehicle, a man inside fired at Officer Diller below his bullet-proof vest. In a courageous effort to protect his partner, Diller’s colleague returned fire, injuring the shooter, who was subsequently taken to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts to save him, Diller succumbed to his injuries at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Diller, who had been with the NYPD for three years, is survived by his spouse and young child. The tragic loss of a dedicated officer has left the department and the city in shock. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny praised Diller’s bravery, mentioning how he valiantly attempted to disarm the shooter even after being wounded.
The incident drew a crowd of onlookers, with witnesses describing a chaotic scene. One bystander recounted the swift and devastating event, while another shared the heartbreaking sight of Diller on the ground, wounded but still conscious. The tragic event serves as a reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
This unfortunate incident is the first fatal shooting of an NYPD officer since 2022, when two officers were ambushed in an apartment building in Harlem. In response to the senseless act of violence, Mayor Adams, a former police captain, met with Diller’s grieving widow and denounced the actions of the perpetrators as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers every day.
Patrick Hendry, president of the Police Benevolent Association of New York, expressed anger and grief over the shooting, calling for an end to the attacks on NYPD officers. The tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the risks law enforcement officers take to protect their communities each day.