(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Brent Henry, 61, of Riverhead, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of Murder in the Second Degree and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, for fatally shooting 23-year-old Ines Reyes of East Patchogue.
“When the defendant senselessly murdered Mr. Reyes, he robbed him of a future,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We hope that today’s sentence brings a small measure of closure to his loved ones.”
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 the victim shared with his girlfriend, who is also Henry’s niece. 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. 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. 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.
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 October 2, 2025, Henry was convicted after a jury trial, heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A violent felony, and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent felonies.
On November 7, 2025, Justice Horowitz sentenced Henry to 25 years to life in prison followed by 5 years post. He was represented by Katherine Fernandez, Esq. and David Arpino, Esq.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elena Tomaro of the Homicide Bureau and Jonathan Cappiello of the Major Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detectives T. Michael Palumbo, Guido Cirenza, and Brendan O’Hara of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
