Lindy Jones, driver of car involved in fatal shooting of NYPD detective from Massapequa Park, pleads guilty to weapons charge

Lindy Jones, the 43-year-old Queens man who drove the car involved in the killing of NYPD Det. Jonathan Diller more than two years ago, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a charge of criminal possession of a weapon found in the vehicle.

Jones wasn’t involved in the fatal shooting of Diller on March 25, 2024, during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, but police found a 9-mm pistol in the glove compartment of the Kia Soul he was driving. Under the plea agreement, he is to be sentenced to 5 years in prison.

Guy Rivera, the passenger in the vehicle Jones was driving, got into a tense confrontation with Diller during the incident and was convicted in April of aggravated manslaughter and other offenses for which he received a prison sentence that month of 115 years to life.

Under questioning by State Supreme Court Justice Michael Yavinsky in Queens, Jones, who had a previous conviction for attempted murder, admitted that he was in the car when the loaded gun was found in the glove compartment. Trial evidence in the case against Rivera showed that the 9-mm gun was not used in the shooting of Diller, but rather a different weapon.

Diller, of Massapequa Park, died within an hour of the shooting and was promoted at his department funeral to the rank of detective. Diller’s wife, Stephanie, who attended the trial of Rivera, was not in court Wednesday when Jones entered his guilty plea.

"Lindy Jones drove around the streets of Queens with a loaded, defaced firearm that threatened the lives of everyone he encountered," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said. "We have seen firsthand the devastation illegal guns cause as we continue to mourn the killing of Detective Jonathan Diller at the hands of Jones’ co-defendant."

About a dozen police officers attended the court proceeding Wednesday. Outside the courthouse, New York City Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry said Jones’ decision to plead guilty spared the Diller family the ordeal of another trial.

"We are truly grateful that he will be staying in a jail cell, where he belongs," Hendry said of Jones.

New York City Detectives' Endowment Association president Scott Munro said in a statement to Newsday: "We, his colleagues in blue, will feel his loss always and wish his brave family peace."

Michael Jackson, of Inwood, who identified himself as an uncle of Jones, told reporters outside court that he believed Jones should have fought the case and gone to trial.

"I feel bad," said Jackson. "We never get a break, never get a break. ... Somewhere, somewhere, there will be justice."

Police body camera videos shown during the Rivera trial showed Jones sitting in the driver seat of the vehicle and being questioned by police, who asked for identification. Jones appeared argumentative, asking why the officers were "harassing" him. Jones, when asked by officers, is seen opening the passenger side door and in moments, Rivera’s gun is heard discharging, fatally striking Diller in the abdomen.

Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on July 14.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.