Man accused of shooting Suffolk County officer in face, killing another man remanded by judge
NORTH BAY SHORE, New York (WABC) -- The man accused of shooting a Suffolk County police officer in the face while he executed a search warrant during a homicide investigation went before a judge on Friday.
Nieves Reyes, 48, was arraigned on charges of murder and attempted murder of a police officer. He said nothing as officers took him to court.
A crowd of Suffolk officers marched into the courtroom where they stared down the man prosecutors say tried to kill one of their own.
"This individual wanted to kill multiple police officers, he should never see the light of day again, he should spend the rest of his life in prison," said Lou Civello, president of the Suffolk County PBA.
During Friday's arraignment, Reyes was remanded by the judge with no chance to post bail.
Police say it all started when Eugene Allen, 66, was found in the brush on the south side of New York Avenue at 4:35 p.m. Wednesday by two neighbors returning home from work.
According to police, the suspect and the victim were both mechanics, and officials believe the murder stems from a dispute.
Officials say Reyes, armed with a machete, chased Allen down and stabbed him in the back of the neck.
Surveillance footage helped officials find the suspect, but after attempting to execute a search warrant around 2 a.m., officials say Reyes fired off several shots from inside - hitting the officer as well as police vehicles.
At least seven shots were fired from the home, striking the 33-year-old officer, who is also a Navy veteran. The officer was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery on his cheek.
"We are very fortunate today, getting shot in the face is a very lethal type area to be shot, this officer's wound was literally a half-inch away from his eye, it was up on his cheek," said Dr. James Vosswinkel with Stony Brook University Hospital.
The officer, who has not been identified, was released from the hospital on Friday.
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