Nieves F. Reyes, of North Bay Shore, arraigned in killing of mechanic, shooting of Suffolk Officer Joseph Damon

A North Bay Shore man was arraigned Friday on charges of shooting a Suffolk County police officer and killing a 66-year-old acquaintance with a machete.

Nieves F. Reyes, 48, allegedly shot 33-year-old Officer Joseph Damon in the face after police went to his New York Avenue residence on July 24 to execute a search warrant.

The door was open and when police entered about 2:20 a.m., Reyes opened fire, according to authorities and an indictment handed down Friday.

Reyes was charged Friday with murder in the second degree, attempted murder in the first degree, and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree.

"The defendant knew or reasonably should have known that the intended victim was a police officer," the indictment said.

Suffolk County Court Judge Anthony Senft ordered Reyes held without bail.

"The victim in this case was maliciously, ruthlessly and savagely cut down by" the alleged attacker, Reyes, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney told reporters after the arraignment. "Suffice it to say that a good person was murdered for no good reason."  

Damon also nearly lost his life when he was shot in the face, Tierney said.

"It could have been we're talking about millimeters and this would have been a tragedy," Tierney said. Damon is "very lucky and he's doing very well, thank God," adding that he is "obviously a very strong and resilient individual."

Reyes allegedly shot 13 rounds at police during the standoff, Tierney said.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said, "It’s hard to be grateful when one of your officers gets shot in the face, but we know that had that bullet struck him a half-inch higher, this would be a much different press conference."

"It was a harrowing situation where ... our officers came under fire over the course of 4½ hours and were able to apprehend this extremely violent and dangerous individual without having to return a shot," he said.

Damon, who was publicly identified by authorities for the first time on Friday, was treated and released from Stony Brook University Hospital for injuries including a fractured cheekbone. He is expected to make a full recovery. 

Damon has been a Suffolk County police officer for two years and is married with three children, police said. He served as a medic with the U.S. Marine Corps for about five years, and finished active duty in May 2020. He served in the Mediterranean and in Japan. 

Taped confession

After his arrest, Reyes waived his right to remain silent and admitted during a taped confession to killing Eugene Allen, of Brentwood, and opening fire on police, prosecutors have said.

Reyes was also seen on surveillance tape chasing Allen with a machete across a lawn, Newsday has reported. He and Reyes had worked together as mechanics, Suffolk County police have said.

Allen’s body was discovered July 23 under leaves and brush on a quiet cul-de-sac in North Bay Shore with a "deep, gaping wound to the back of his neck," Suffolk County Assistant District Attorney Dena Rizopoulos said in court earlier this week.

The investigation had started when police got a 911 call about a body in a wooded lot on New York Avenue, police have said.

Officers scouring the area for witnesses and evidence spoke to Reyes and later, after reviewing the surveillance video, determined he was a suspect in Allen’s slaying, authorities have said.

Authorities have not stated a motive in Allen's killing. 

Reyes was ordered back to court on Sept. 3.