Suffolk County police officer released from hospital as man accused of shooting him appears in court
The man accused of shooting a Suffolk County police officer earlier this week on Long Island appeared in court Friday, as the wounded officer was released from the hospital after being shot in the face.
Nieves Reyes pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder of a police officer in front of a courtroom packed with law enforcement.
Man charged with murdering coworker in North Bay Shore
Reyes is accused of killing 66-year-old Eugene Allen, a coworker, Wednesday in North Bay Shore, a hamlet in the Town of Islip. While police were investigating the homicide, Reyes allegedly opened fire on them, shooting the injured officer in the face.
In court, prosecutors cited a videotaped confession and surveillance video of Reyes chasing the Brentwood man with a machete. Reyes listened with help from a translator as they detailed what they called an "overwhelming" case against him.
The victim's nearly decapitated body was discovered Wednesday under leaves across from Reyes' house.
"With a deep and gaping back-of-neck wound," the prosecutor said. "His head nearly severed from his body."
Investigators said the men worked together, possibly as mechanics, and had a prior dispute.
"I was getting ready for work and I just saw them ... he was chasing him with a machete," Anthony Reid, the grandson of the victim's girlfriend, said. "I barely had clothes on so I couldn't, you know, get in between anything."
He did not know what Allen and Reyes were arguing about, but said his grandmother is now grieving the loss of her boyfriend.
"She's broken up right now. She's very sad," he said. "They were a happy couple."
Suffolk County police officer released from hospital after shooting
Hours after the body was discovered, Reyes allegedly opened fire on police officers serving a search warrant at his home on New York Avenue.
The bullet entered just below the 33-year-old officer's eye, but he was released from the hospital Friday and is expected to make a full recovery.
Fellow officers packed the courtroom Friday and called for the death penalty for the attempted murder of a police officer.
"After committing a savage and brutal murder, his intent was not only to kill one police officer, but to kill multiple police officers. We were fired upon, and it was only a small miracle that one of our officers were not killed," Lou Civello, president of the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association, said.
"We're not going to have any comment at this time. We're gonna do our best to vigorously defend him, but we're not gonna have any comment on the case," Brett Bennett, Reyes' attorney, said.
Police said the officer, whose name has not been released, has been with the department for two years and is a Navy veteran who's married with three children.
"I'm sure he will be right back on the street as soon as he is well enough to do so," Bennett said.
"I think he's in a lot of pain, but I think he understands this could've gone a lot worse. I think he's happy to be alive, and we're happy that he is alive," Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said Thursday.
Officials said they recovered a machete, two shotguns and boxes of ammunition from inside Reyes' home, which is surrounded by security cameras and tree trunks topped with motion detection lights.
Reyes was ordered held without bail. Prosecutors told the judge he is in the country legally.
His family members declined to comment outside court.
