Video of moment NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller shot to death sparks strong reaction at murder trial

Dramatic body-cam video played Wednesday at the Queens trial of suspected cop killer Guy Rivera captured the moment NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller was shot to death — footage that sparked a strong reaction among his loved ones and colleagues.

Several times when prosecutors played video from the 2024 shooting in Far Rockaway, Stephanie Diller stepped out of the courtroom, sparing herself the grisly and gruesome details of how her husband and father of her 3-year-old boy died trying to disarm an ex-convict on a busy street.

In a courtroom packed with police officers, department veterans teared up as the footage played on.

They knew how the videos would end.

Day 2 of the much-anticipated trial featured testimony from Diller’s partner, 25-year veteran Sgt. Sasha Rosen, who said he spotted an L-shaped object in the “kangaroo” pocket of the suspect’s hooded sweatshirt.

Rosen said he suspected the man was concealing a gun, so he and Diller, who was working on what was supposed to have been his day off, followed him to a parked car and watched him get in on the passenger’s side.

Rosen said Rivera, 35, ignored repeated requests to roll down the window. Seconds later, and Rosen said he and Diller found themselves in a deadly struggle with Rivera.

’Rosen spoke as a prosecutor showed camera footage from three different sources, T-Mobile store on Mott Avenue as well as body-worn camera video from Diller.

“Did you see that?” Rosen says on one of the videos after he spots the suspect with what he says he thought was the gun.

Two minutes later, the cops are ordering the passenger out of the car. Prosecutors showed video of Diller on the ground and a firearm visible above him. Seconds later, the camera showed the wound area.

Though mortally wounded, Diller managed to rip the gun out of the shooter’s hand, a final act of courage that also was caught on camera.

Visible on one of the videos is the gunman’s hand on the .380 caliber weapon, Rosen’s hand on the defendant’s wrist and Diller’s hand, identified by a ring on his finger, also on the gun.

Seconds later, the gun is dislodged and pushed out of reach.

Rosen was lucky to be alive to testify, officials said. After the fatal shot was fired, the gun malfunctioned because a shell casing became lodged in the chamber, officials said.

Diller died a short time later at Jamaica Hospital.

Another officer returned fire, hitting Rivera twice.

Lindy Jones, who was in the driver’s seat of the car that was stopped, has been charged with gun possession.