The mother of a man who allegedly shot and killed a police officer in Queens on Monday night said she wished she could “turn back time” as she worked to piece together what happened.
Keshia Gilyard confirmed to Gothamist by phone on Tuesday that her son Guy Rivera, 34, was in police custody in connection with the fatal shooting of Officer Jonathan Diller, 31.
“I just wish this was all a dream and I could wake up, you know? I just can’t believe my son would get caught up in this, I can’t believe that,” Gilyard said.
Diller’s death sparked an outpouring of grief among fellow officers, including memorial march scheduled to take place on Staten Island on Friday. It has been more than two years since a police officer was killed in the line of duty.
Mayor Eric Adams began his weekly press conference by observing a moment of silence for Diller. He then spoke of meeting Diller’s grief-stricken family at the hospital on Monday night, which conjured memories of his own days as a police officer.
“It’s just a senseless act of violence,” he said.
Rivera, the suspected shooter, was still at a local hospital on Tuesday, undergoing surgery for a bullet wound he sustained during the shootout.
“I’m waiting for the doctors. I’ve got to speak to the 101st Precinct, so I can go see my son,” Gilyard said, adding that she heard he was still “heavily sedated.”
Police said Rivera was the passenger in a car that was parked illegally at a bus stop at 1919 Mott Ave in Far Rockaway just before 6 p.m. Monday. Police identified a man named Lindy Jones as the driver, and said he was also in custody with charges pending.
When Diller and his partner approached, police said Rivera pointed a gun at the officers, and they exchanged fire.
Officials said Diller was shot in the torso under his bullet-resistant vest, while Rivera was shot in the back after Diller’s partner returned fire.
Gilyard heard about the incident around midnight, while she was at work.
“I’m trying to speculate in my…
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