Traffic stop leads to fatal shooting of NYPD officer
Jonathan Diller, an officer with three years of service, suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the torso beneath his bulletproof vest during a traffic stop. He was rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he later died.
7:39 AM EDT, March 26, 2024
Authorities detained two individuals in connection with the incident. According to police, the officers involved were part of the department's Critical Response Team and initiated the traffic stop at 1919 Mott Ave., close to Beach 20th Street, around 5:48 p.m. Upon nearing the vehicle, one of the suspects brandished a firearm at the officers, leading to an exchange of gunfire. The deceased officer's colleague retaliated, injuring the armed suspect, who was subsequently transported to Jamaica Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.
"We lost Jonathan tonight and Stephanie, his wife, speaking with her is extremely impactful. It brought me back at the beginning of my term as mayor speaking with the family members of officers Rivera and Mora, feeling that intense pain, hoping it's not true," said Mayor, Eric Adams during press conference.
Mayor added "It's because of a senseless act of violence that we witness a person had a total disregard for the safety of this city (...) It is the good guys against the bad guys and these bad guys are violent. They carry guns and the symbol of our public safety, which is police uniform, they have a total disregard for."
Police Commissioner Edward Caban said Officer Diller, 31, "was shot doing the job we asked him to do. He put himself in harm's way. He went toward the danger, all to keep the people we serve safe and to protect his fellow New Yorkers. Make no mistake, we should not be here right now. We should never be here praying for the life of an NYPD officer, but we are and this is why."
Source: New York Post, CBS News
