Mount Sinai NY
7-27-2025 10:18pm

Fatal Shooting of Ex-Coworker, Officer Shot in Face: Man Charged with Murder

Officials say police have identified and charged the man responsible for shooting an officer in the face and killing another person on Long Island on Wednesday.

Nieves F. Reyes, 48, of Bay Shore, has been identified by Suffolk County police as the man arrested for shooting a police officer in the face and killing a former colleague.

Reyes faces charges of second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder of a police officer. He's currently being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct in Selden and is set to be arraigned Friday at First District Court in Central Islip.

On Wednesday, Reyes allegedly shot a 33-year-old officer, who had been on the force for two years, at a homicide investigation scene on Long Island. During a press event on Thursday at Stony Brook University Hospital, officials, including Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, stated that the officer "escaped death by the grace of God."

According to Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, police received a 911 call Wednesday at 4:35 p.m. about a 66-year-old man found dead in a wooded lot at 19 New York Avenue in North Bay Shore. Homicide detectives later identified Reyes as a person of interest in the death using Ring camera footage.

Catalina stated that Reyes and the deceased man knew each other, having reportedly worked together as mechanics, and had a history of disputes.

Detectives were establishing a perimeter at Reyes' home, armed with search warrants, when he allegedly fired multiple shots. One of those bullets struck an officer in the face, according to Commissioner Catalina. The injured officer lost consciousness and was transported to South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore before being moved to Stony Brook University Hospital for surgery to remove the bullet.

A hostage negotiation team and a tactical drone were deployed to the scene at 5:50 p.m. During the drone's deployment, the suspect fired seven rounds, striking officers' vehicles seven times, according to Catalina. The man surrendered at 6:09 p.m.

Despite the gunfire, the officers at the scene showed "great restraint" and did not return fire, Catalina stated. He added, "Policing is a challenge, and we are reminded once again that an officer's life can be threatened in a second."

He added, "If not by the grace of God, this press conference would have been a lot different today. The officers did an amazing job; they didn't fire back and conducted a very safe operation without returning fire."

Dr. James Vosswinkel, the surgeon who operated on the officer, emphasized the seriousness of the injury, stating the officer was "very fortunate. Getting shot in the face is very lethal." He explained that the bullet was literally half an inch from the officer's eye, resulting in a fractured cheekbone and the bullet lodging near his ear. "If that was a half an inch different, he would have been blind, or not with us right now," Vosswinkel said. "It goes to show you what sworn police officers do for us, how close something can come between life and death. Amazingly, he had no nerve damage and should make a full recovery."

The bullet wound was serious, not a graze, striking the officer at high velocity, according to Dr. Vosswinkel. He noted that the officer had previously served four years as a combat medic in the Navy.

Commissioner Catalina said he spoke with the officer, who, despite being in a lot of pain, had a "smile on his face, and is in good spirits." Catalina added, "He understands this could have been a lot worse. He's happy to be alive — and we're happy he's alive."

Catalina stated that the victim found in the woods sustained wounds consistent with a homicide.

Romaine stated that he received the call at 3 a.m., describing it as "one of those calls you don't want to get, that you dread getting, that one of your officers was injured." He added, "Our prayers are with his wife and three children. We are all behind him."

He added, "Police officers put their lives on the line. A situation can turn violent unexpectedly, even when simply serving a warrant. I'm thankful the bullet didn't cause devastating damage. By the grace of God, if he had turned his face, we might be facing a completely different outcome."

PBA 1st Vice President John Hnat countered claims that attacks on police officers in New York are declining. He emphasized, "Being a police officer comes with sacrifices you don't always see — and today, you see it firsthand."

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