Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Brent Henry, 59, of Riverhead, was indicted for fatally shooting 23-year-old Ines Reyes of East Patchogue.
“The alleged actions of this defendant tragically resulted in the taking of a man’s life,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will aggressively prosecute this case and seek justice for Ines Reyes and his loved ones.”
According to the investigation, on August 18, 2023, Henry and the victim, Ines Reyes, allegedly had a verbal confrontation which turned into a fist fight inside the Bellport home that Reyes shared with his girlfriend, who is also Henry’s niece. To end the fight, Reyes and his girlfriend left their Bellport residence and went to a home on Amsterdam Avenue in East Patchogue to be with other family members. A short time later, Henry also arrived at the residence in East Patchogue and confronted Reyes in front of the home and engaged him in another fist fight. After a brief exchange of punches and shoves, Henry went to his vehicle, retrieved a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, and shot Reyes multiple times.
Reyes was rushed to Long Island Community Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Henry was arrested the next day, on August 19, 2023.
On August 31, 2023, Henry was arraigned on the indictment by Acting Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard I. Horowitz, for Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony.
Judge Horowitz ordered Henry remanded during the pendency of the case. His next court date is September 18, 2023. Henry faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count. He is being represented by Christopher Cassar, Esq.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective T. Michael Palumbo of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
Criminal complaints and indictments are merely accusatory instruments. Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. No one is above the law.
