Dave Portnoy, the visionary behind Barstool Sports, recently came forward with an astonishing declaration. He was able to accumulate $1.5 million in aid of the late NYPD officer, Jonathan Diller’s family. Portnoy pledged beforehand to match the funds that would be donated. ‘With the combined efforts of all those who generously donated, we amassed 750k. With the matching fund, this sums to 1.5 million that goes straight to the family,’ Portnoy exclaimed on X.
Earlier, Portnoy affirmed his decision to ‘correspond with whatever our total fundraising is up until midnight today.’ Jonathan Diller, the young law enforcement officer, sadly lost his life at the early age of 31 in a traffic stop gone awry in Queens that erupted into a despicable gunfight with the notorious criminal, Guy Rivera, aged 34, on a dreadful Monday night.
Whilst addressing the disastrous event, Dave Portnoy stated during a video he shared on X and TikTok, ‘I trust that everyone’s come across the sorrowful news. It’s downright horrific, The NYPD officer, Jonathan Diller who met an unfortunate fate.’ He encouraged his followers to make a charitable contribution to the cause.
Details about the unfortunate incident unraveled further when Portnoy added, ‘Routine traffic check, two men were pulled over, individuals with a history of being in and out of the correctional system uncountable times, just started a gunfight causing this disaster.’ The events unfolded caused great grief and lead to the loss of not just an officer, but a father and a spouse.
Portnoy, displaying sincere compassion and speaking of the aftermath, shared ‘It’s heart-wrenching. His departure leaves behind a wife and a one-year-old child. We managed to secure around $240,000 directly for the family by selling T-shirts. Every cent made from this will be given to the family.’
Assistance for Officer Jonathan Diller’s infant son can be provided through the Silver Shield Foundation, set up to assist in funding his forthcoming education. Diller’s untimely demise during the traffic check in Queens left his wife, Stephanie, and infant, Ryan, in a state of unimaginable loss.
The Silver Shield Foundation was brought into existence in 1982 by the well-remembered late owner of the New York Yankees, George Steinbrenner. It was designed to aid the families of NYPD officers and FDNY firefighters who tragically lose their lives in the line of duty. Anyone seeking to make a contribution can visit silvershieldfoundation.org/donate or mail it directly to: Silver Shield Foundation, 870 UN Plaza, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10017.
Further showing his dedication, Portnoy added to the cause, ‘At the end of the day today, anything we raise, anything we make, I will personally match, thus doubling the funds we can gather’ underscored his genuine commitment in aiding the bereaved family. After all, what is more noble than helping those who suffer the loss of a loved one in the line of duty?
Portnoy, ever sincere and empathetic, added, ‘I acknowledge that no amount of money can bring back what’s lost or remedy the situation. There’s no way to truly cure this but doing the least we can is to contribute financially. We, at Barstool and myself, have a longstanding history of supporting law enforcement officers, the men in blue, and first responders.
Speaking about the grave circumstances under which law enforcement operate, Portnoy passionately stated, ‘It’s truly heartbreaking. They risk their lives every day, serving us. It’s simply tragic. We stand ready to do whatever we can in support.’
As you may be asking, what transpired on that fateful day with Officer Jonathan Diller? The young 31-year-old officer was shot during a standard traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens, on the 25th of March, 2024. The suspect, Guy Rivera, a dangerous criminal, attacked Officer Diller on that unfortunate Monday evening. This engagement started when Diller approached the vehicle Rivera was occupying due to a parking violation in front of a bus stop.
The assailant shot Diller in the abdomen, just below his bulletproof vest. Father of a one-year-old boy and a devoted husband, Diller was immediately transported to Jamaica Hospital, where he was later marked deceased. Diller’s partner managed to retaliate, injuring Rivera in the process. Rivera, a man with an appalling 21 counts of prior arrests, was later found with a homemade weapon concealed in his rectum, making evident his anticipation of a likely jail sentence.
Aiding the suspect in the vehicle was Lindy Jones, an ex-convict who was also arrested after authorities found another firearm in his car. Post the event, Mayor Eric Adams called for renewed efforts from Albany to tackle the issue of criminal recidivism particularly spotlighting scenarios which involve criminals harboring lengthy records.
In this tragic incident, Diller’s partner was reported to have discharged two rounds, one of which hit Rivera in his back. They were able to apprehend Lindy Jones, 41, who was present in the automobile. The unfortunate officer met a devastating fate with a bullet below his protective vest. He was immediately rushed to Jamaica Hospital, where he would later be declared deceased. He leaves behind his wife Stephanie and a one-year-old son. Charged with weapon possession and defacing a weapon, Jones, another man with an extensive criminal background, was arrested. So far, no charges have been filed against Rivera. And to further help, a GoFundMe page for Officer Diller has been set up, raking in over $491,000 as of the following Thursday.