Riverhead Man Sentenced To 25 Years To Life After Fatally Shooting Father-To-Be: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — A Riverhead man was sentenced to 25 years to life after being found guilty of fatally shooting a 23-year-old East Patchogue father-to-be in 2023, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said Friday.

Brent Henry, 61, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, after fatally shooting Ines Reyes, the DA said.

The evidence at trial established that on August 18, 2023, Henry and the victim, Reyes, had a verbal confrontation that turned into a fist fight inside the Bellport home Reyes shared with his girlfriend, who is also Henry’s niece, Tierney said.

Following 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, the DA said.

A short time later, Henry also arrived at the residence located on Amsterdam Avenue and confronted Reyes in front of the home where another fist fight ensued, Tierney said.

After a brief confrontation, Henry went to his vehicle, retrieved a .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, and shot Reyes multiple times in front of the niece, the DA said.

Reyes was rushed to Long Island Community Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead, the DA said. Henry was arrested the next day, on August 19, 2023, Tierney said.

On October 2, Henry was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz, of second-degree murder, a Class A violent felony, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class C violent felonies, Tierney said.

On Friday Justice Horowitz sentenced Henry to 25 years to life in prison followed by 5 years post-release supervision, the DA said.

He was represented by Katherine Fernandez and David Arpino; neither could immediately be reached for comment.

"Mr. Reyes was one month away from becoming a father when the defendant made the senseless decision to murder him," Tierney said recently. "We can never give the victim’s daughter the chance to meet her father, but hopefully today’s verdict brings the family some measure of closure."

On Friday, Tierney added: “When the defendant senselessly murdered Mr. Reyes, he robbed him of a future. We hope that today’s sentence brings a small measure of closure to his loved ones."