Riverhead man indicted for murder in East Patchogue shooting, DA says

A Riverhead man was indicted today on a murder charge for fatally shooting a man in East Patchogue earlier this month, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney.

Brent Henry, 59, of Riverhead fatally shot Ines Reyes, 23, of Bellport on Aug. 18 after a dispute caused a fist fight, the district attorney said. Reyes, the boyfriend of Henry’s niece, was rushed to Long Island Community Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. 

Henry and Reyes got in a verbal confrontation that evolved into a fist fight earlier in the day at Reyes’ Bellport home, according to the press release. Reyes and his girlfriend fled the home and went to be with family members on Amsterdam Avenue in East Patchogue, the district attorney said. Henry arrived at the home a short time later and confronted Reyes again, engaging him in another fist fight and shooting him multiple times with a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, according to the district attorney.

Henry was arrested the day after the incident occurred, according to the district attorney.

“The alleged actions of this defendant tragically resulted in the taking of a man’s life,” Tierney said in a press release. “We will aggressively prosecute this case and seek justice for Ines Reyes and his loved ones.”

Henry is charged with second degree murder, a class A violent felony, and second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C violent felony, according to the district attorney. Henry faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted of the top count.

Henry is remanded during the pendency of the case and is due back in court Sept. 18, 2023.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.