NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The widow of NYPD officer Jonathan Diller broke down in tears surrounded by a sea of blue in a New York City courtroom as prosecutors gave a graphic description of the bullet that “ripped through” the married father after a man allegedly fired multiple shots at him during a routine traffic stop.
Stephanie Diller walked out of the Queens courtroom before body camera footage of the 2024 shooting death of her husband was played in the murder trial of 35-year-old Guy Rivera in Queens Supreme Court on Tuesday.
“[Rivera] took out his gun and pointed it at officer Diller,” Assistant District Attorney Ken Zawistouski said during the trial’s opening statements.
“He shot officer Diller underneath his bulletproof vest, causing his intestines to be ripped through and causing his iliac artery to be severed — one of the body’s most vital arteries,” Zawistouski continued.
BODYCAM SHOWS NYPD OFFICER SHOOTING MAN WITH KNIFE AS MAMDANI CALLS FOR NO CRIMINAL CHARGES
Stephanie Diller, widow of slain NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, becomes emotional as she attends her husband’s murder trial. (Fox News)
“The bullet ripped through his abdomen and, in the last moments of his life, he ripped the gun from the killer’s hands.”
The body camera footage showed the moments officers attempted to revive Diller in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
Dozens of police officers sat silently in the courtroom gallery for the first day of Rivera’s trial, filling two overflow rooms and surrounding Diller’s widow as jurors listened to opening statements. Several officers were seen tearing up during the proceedings.
MISSOURI SUSPECT TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AFTER DEPUTY FATALLY SHOT, ENDING MANHUNT
Rivera, a career criminal with nearly two dozen prior arrests, according to police, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges after prosecutors said he gunned down Diller in Far Rockaway on March 25, 2024.
Guy Rivera was charged with first-degree murder of a police officer, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the case. He pleaded not guilty. (Fox News)
The incident allegedly unfolded after Diller inspected a suspicious vehicle parked outside a T-Mobile store, as Rivera – who was seated in the passenger seat – allegedly fired three rounds toward the officer, striking him in the stomach.
Rivera’s attorney, Erin Darcy, claimed shots were fired in “an unintentional discharge” as a police sergeant attempted to pull Rivera out of the vehicle, thus making the NYPD responsible for Diller’s death.
NYPD SERGEANT CONVICTED AFTER THROWING COOLER AT FLEEING DRUG SUSPECT IN NEW YORK CITY: REPORT
Rivera was also shot during the confrontation.
On Tuesday, Zawistouski pointed to the fact that Rivera was faced with a choice when Diller approached his vehicle.
“One, surrender his firearm peacefully and inform the officers that he was in possession of two loaded firearms — one tucked in his jacket pocket and the other in the glove compartment in front of him,” Zawistouski said.
FAMILY OF SLAIN CHICAGO OFFICER SUES CITY, SAYS DEPARTMENT IGNORED WARNINGS ABOUT DANGEROUS PARTNER
Officer Jonathan Diller in an undated family photo, holding his 1-year-old son. (Jean O’Donnell/Facebook)
“The defendant had choices. That day, he chose violence.”
In a statement, NYPD PBA President Patrick Hendry reportedly promised that NYPD officers would continue to appear in the courtroom to support Diller’s loved ones as Rivera’s trial unfolds.
Murder suspect and ex-con Guy Rivera appears for his arraignment in a Queens courtroom on Tuesday, May 7. Rivera is charged with the murder of NYPD Officer Johnathan Diller and attempted murder of his partner, Sgt. Sasha Rosen. (Fox News)
“Jonathan Diller was a talented person who could have succeeded at any profession that he would have chosen,” Hendry said, according to the New York Post. “But he knew he had a mission in life – to help people and save lives. And he did that every day as a New York City Police officer.”
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Unfortunately, his family is going to have to re-live this nightmare for the next three weeks.”
Rivera’s attorney and the NYPD PBA did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Olivia Palombo contributed to this report.