According to the Queens District Attorney's office, Guy Rivera was convicted of aggravated manslaughter in the first degree. Additionally, he has a conviction of first-degree attempted murder and was acquitted of murder in the first degree.
Sentencing has been scheduled for April 27. Rivera faces up to 90 years in prison.
The case, presided over by Michael Aloise in Queens Criminal Court in Kew Gardens, concluded following a three-week trial. Closing arguments were delivered March 31.
"Shooting a law enforcement officer and killing that officer should be a capital offense," said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is the Republican candidate for governor. "The laws of our state need to be amended so that legal loopholes do not frustrate the fullest prosecution and punishment of cop killers. Our hearts go out to the Diller family on this very disappointing verdict."
Prosecutors alleged Rivera shot Diller at close range during a traffic stop, killing the 31-year-old officer. Authorities said Rivera then attempted to shoot Diller’s partner, Sasha Rosen, leading to an additional charge of attempted first-degree murder.
Rivera pleaded not guilty. His defense argued the shooting was unintentional and occurred during a struggle.
Diller’s death marked the first on-duty NYPD killing in two years and drew widespread attention across New York City.
