Ex-con driver in shooting death of NYPD hero Jonathan Diller faces 30 years behind bars as prosecutors reveal new details in case

An ex-convict who allegedly bragged about shooting people after a passenger in his car killed NYPD cop Jonathan Diller was arraigned on Tuesday, with new details emerging in the case.

Lindy Jones, 41, was held without bail on charges of criminal possession of a weapon in Queens criminal court connected to the fatal March 25 incident where Diller was killed by a single gunshot to the stomach. Prosecutors revealed that the murder weapon jammed during the altercation.

Jones was in the driver’s seat of a parked Kia Soul when the passenger, Guy Rivera, opened fire on officers.

The charges against Jones, also known as “Killa,” are related to a 9mm pistol found in the Kia, not the gun used to kill Diller, according to the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

If convicted on the current charges, Jones could face up to 15 years in prison, in addition to 15 years on a separate open weapons charge from April 2023, to be served consecutively, the DA stated.

He reportedly told cops, “My name is Lindy Jones Jr. and I shoot people,” according to prosecutors.

Jones has a criminal record with at least 14 arrests, including charges of robbery, assault, and attempted murder in a 2001 case where he allegedly shot a man three times.

Rivera, 34, also has a history of criminal activity, with 21 arrests and a five-year stint in state prison for a drug conviction. He was released in 2021 and completed his parole in 2022.

Diller, a 3-year veteran of the NYPD and a father of a 1-year-old boy, was shot below his bulletproof vest while questioning Jones and Rivera at a bus stop in Far Rockaway. He was promoted posthumously to detective.

After shooting Diller, Rivera aimed his gun at Sgt. Sasha Rosen, who was with the injured officer, according to prosecutors. The gun jammed after firing the fatal shot, preventing further injuries.

Jones is scheduled to appear in court on June 12, while Rivera, who faces charges of murder and attempted murder, will be back in court on May 7.

Diller was laid to rest after a two-day wake that drew hundreds of uniformed officers and a visit from former President Donald Trump.

Queens DA Melinda Katz emphasized the importance of removing illegal guns from the streets to prevent tragedies like the shooting of Detective Diller, stating, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieve that goal and to seek justice for Detective Diller and his loved ones.”