MASSASPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Many from the community are expected on Long Island Thursday to mourn fallen NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, 31, who was fatally shot in Queens this week. Diller’s wake is being held in Nassau County, where he lived with his wife and young son. Mayor Eric Adams and former President Donald Trump attended the gathering. Meanwhile, the man suspected of shooting Diller during a traffic stop was charged Thursday with murder.
HERE’S THE LATEST:
4 p.m. -- Adams attends wake
Before the end of the initial 4 p.m. visitation end, Mayor Eric Adams arrived and paid his respects to Dillen. He did not openly speak with reporters, but at an earlier Thursday press conference he did comment on Joe Biden's arrival in New York City and the regrets offered to him by the president.
“Our hearts go out to the family members of our slain officer. The wake is today, I received a call from the president a few moments ago, sending his condolences, and I will relay those condolences to the family, but we are truly impacted by the loss. And we’re going to continue to provide the safety to the city that is deserved," Adams said.
2:30 p.m. -- Trump speaks with reporters, visits widow
Former President Trump, the presumptive presidential Republican nominee, spoke at Diller's wake and honed in on the tragedy of his loss, and the issue of crime and violence in the country, a major focus of his third White House campaign.
“The Diller family will, they’ll never be the same. You can never be the same. And we have to stop it. We have to stop it. We have to get back to law and order, we have to do a lot of things differently because this is not working. This is happening too often," Trump said.
Trump also said that he spoke with Diller's wife, Stephanie, and offered his condolences.
I just visited with a very beautiful wife that now doesn’t have her husband. Stephanie was just incredible. That child, brand new beautiful baby sitting there, innocent as can be," he added.
Security was tight due to Trump's attendance, who came at the invitiation at the invitation of Diller's family.
2 p.m. -- Trump arrives at wake
Former President Trump was seen walking into the Massapequa Funeral Home promptly at the start of the 2 p.m. visitation time with his entourage.
1 p.m. -- Mourners gather in rain to attend officer's LI wake
An hour before Officer Jonathan Diller's wake is set to start, royal blue ribbons are tied to every tree and light post leading to the Massapequa Funeral Home South Chapel on Merrick Road, where the somber gathering will be held.
There are multiple arrays of flowers on the lawn. And a steady rain matches the mood.
Mayor Eric Adams is expected to attend the wake, as is former President Donald Trump, among other leaders.
12:30 p.m. – Biden gives condolences to Adams
President Joe Biden spoke with Mayor Eric Adams about the killing of Diller, according to the White House.
Biden “gave his condolences about the tragic killing of Officer Jonathan Diller” and “offered Mayor Adams, the City of New York, and the New York Police Department his support in the wake of the tragedy.”
Biden is set to be in New York City Thursday night with former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton for a long-planned fundraiser for his 2024 campaign at Radio City Music Hall.
His expected Republican challenger Donald Trump will also be in New York state Thursday—on Long Island for Diller’s wake.
12 p.m. – Hochul directs flags to fly half-staff statewide
Gov. Kathy Hochul directed flags on all state buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the slain officer.
“New Yorkers are in mourning over the loss of Officer Jonathan Diller, a heroic young man who dedicated his life to public safety and serving the people,” Governor Hochul said. “Our prayers are with his family, his loved ones and his colleagues in the NYPD as they grieve this tragic and senseless loss.”
Flags will be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on March 30, the day of Diller’s funeral services.
11:30 a.m. – Suspect charged with murder in cop’s killing
The man accused of fatally shooting Diller in Queens this week was charged with murder on Thursday, police said.
Guy Rivera, 34, was hit with a first-degree murder charge--as well as intent to murder, attempted murder, and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon--in Monday's fatal shooting during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway.
Rivera was shot in the back by Diller's partner and remains hospitalized.
He was charged a day after the alleged driver of the car, Lindy Jones, 41, was charged with criminal possession of a loaded weapon and defacing a firearm serial number.
According to police, Jones was in the driver seat of a 2016 Kia Soul and Rivera was in the passenger seat when Diller and his partner stopped the pair because they were illegally parked at a bus stop around 6 p.m.
When the two officers tried to get the men to exit the car, Rivera allegedly pointed a gun at the cops and shot Diller beneath his bulletproof vest.
The gun Jones was charged for is reportedly a second gun and not the same gun Rivera allegedly used in the shooting.
Jones told police he does not know Rivera and that Rivera was a hitchhiker.
Diller—a 31-year-old married father from Massapequa Park who had been with the NYPD for three years—was critically injured and died at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
10:30 a.m. – COP-SHOT to provide $10K to officer’s family
COP-SHOT, the citizen reward-for-info program, announced it is providing $10,000 to Officer Jonathan Diller’s family that will go to the future education needs of his 1-year-old son.
The $10,000 donation represents the cash reward amount that COP-SHOT automatically posts for information leading to the arrest and conviction whenever anyone shoots, or shoots at, or just aims a firearm at a New York City police officer.
In a statement, COP-SHOT Chairman John Provetto said:
“There was no need for COP-SHOT to post our standing $10,000 cash reward in this tragic and cold-blooded murder of Police Officer Diller because the alleged suspects were apprehended at the scene. Therefore, COP-SHOT has gifted this $10,000 to Officer Diller’s family. This is a small gesture to let them know that the service and sacrifice of this father and husband will never be forgotten by New York City and its business community.”
10 a.m. -- Tunnel to Towers to pay off mortgage of officer’s home
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation promised to pay off the mortgage on the Massapequa Park home where Officer Jonathan Diller lived with his wife, Stephanie, and their 1-year-old son.
Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller spoke with the family and told them the mortgage on their home would be paid in full, the organization said.
"Every day Officer Diller donned his uniform, there was a risk he may not come home," Siller said in a statement. "We will honor him not only for his sacrifice but for his unwavering resolve to protect the people of New York City. Tunnel to Towers is honored to ensure his family can stay in their home, forever."
9 a.m. – Trump set to attend officer’s wake on Long Island
Donald Trump will attend Officer Jonathan Diller’s wake in Massapequa Park on Thursday.
Shortly after Trump's campaign announced he would attend the wake, a Republican Party account on social media posted headlines contrasting his planned visit with Biden's fundraiser.
Diller's wake is set to take place both Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. It's being held at the Massapequa Funeral Home South Chapel in Massapequa Park. The funeral Mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa.
Trump’s campaign has offered few details about his appearance or whether he plans to speak.
“President Trump is moved by the invitation to join NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller’s family and colleagues as they deal with his senseless and tragic death,” Trump campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to the Associated Press.
Trump posted about Diller’s death on his social media network Tuesday, offering prayers to Diller’s family and appreciation for law enforcement. He also called the shooter a “thug” and noted that police said Diller’s alleged shooter, Guy Rivera, had numerous prior arrests, declaring that he “NEVER should have been let back out on the streets.”
Trump's visit comes as Biden will also be in New York City Thursday for a previously scheduled fundraiser with former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.