Man pleads not guilty to killing coworker with machete, shooting Suffolk County, NY officer in face during Long Island standoff
Nieves Reyes pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and attempted murder charges in the machete killing of his coworker, Eugene Allen, and for firing upon multiple Suffolk County, New York police officers during a violent armed standoff at his home.
One officer was shot in the face, and prosecutors said Friday he is lucky to be alive.
Prosecutors say surveillance footage shows Reyes chasing the victim with a machete, two hours before Allen's body was found in a wooded area, hidden under brush.
Allen suffered multiple chop wounds to the head, neck, torso and extremities and near-complete decapitation of the head from the body, according to the indictment.
Officials say photos show Reyes returning to his home after fatally stabbing a 66-year-old acquaintance, covered in blood and carrying a machete.
SEE ALSO: Man stabbed with machete in Times Square, New York City police say
When police surrounded his house, police said Reyes fired five shots from inside in rapid succession and what followed was a multi-hour standoff.
At one point, officials say he directly targeted an emergency services officer separated from his team. He instead shot up an Emergency Services vehicle, near where he was standing, according to Suffolk County DA Ray Tierney.
A search warrant on the defendant's home recovered two shotguns along with a total of approximately 19 rounds of 12 gauge shotshell. Both shotguns have been found to be operable.
Additionally, two sheathed machetes were also found within the home.
Reyes was remanded and is due back in court on Sept. 3. He faces 40 years to life in prison if convicted of attempted murder in the first degree and 25 years to life if convicted of murder in the second degree.
