Lindy Jones, 43, was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday for his role in the fatal shooting of NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller in March 2024. Jones pleaded guilty to a felony firearms charge in Queens Supreme Court, bringing closure to a case that has deeply affected the police community and Diller’s family.

The shooting occurred on March 25, 2024, in Far Rockaway, Queens, when Detective Diller and his partners approached a suspicious vehicle. Jones was driving the car, a Kia Soul, at the time. Moments later, the vehicle’s passenger, Guy Rivera, fired upon the officers. Detective Diller, a married father, was struck during the exchange and later died from his injuries. Both Rivera and Jones were arrested at the scene.

Authorities recovered a loaded 9mm handgun from the glove compartment of the Kia Soul, leading to weapons charges against Jones. Despite not being the shooter, Jones’s involvement in the incident resulted in his prosecution and sentencing.

Patrick Hendry, president of the NYPD Police Benevolent Association, commented on the sentencing following the hearing, expressing that while no punishment can reverse the loss of Detective Diller, Jones’s incarceration provides some measure of accountability. “No sentence will bring back Jonathan,” Hendry said. “The pain will never go away for this family. But there’s some comfort in this individual staying in jail where he belongs.” He added that although the sentence is not sufficient to fully address the tragedy, Jones is accepting responsibility and will remain behind bars.

The case remains a somber reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face daily and the enduring impact on their families and communities when violence occurs.