Handyman charged with homicide in ‘Mayor of Metropolis Island’ capturing dying

A local handyman accused of killing a friendly construction worker nicknamed “City Island Mayor” is now charged with murder, but it remains unclear why he allegedly shot Lizbeth Mass.

Video transcript

LAUREN GLASSBERG: Now to some other news of the night. The gun that was used to murder a 52-year-old woman on City Island yesterday belonged to a retired NYPD officer. That’s just one of many twists and turns in shooting yesterday. The suspect was also arrested, not by a police officer, but by an IRS agent who happened to be nearby. Eyewitness reporter Diana Rocco lives with more on City Island. Diana.

DIANA ROCCO: The 52-year-old construction worker was working here on City Island yesterday when she was killed in a very bizarre series of events. There is a memorial in her honor this evening. And while the suspect is in custody, her death has left so many here on City Island and the police now looking for answers.

Lizbeth Mass, 52, has been named Mayor of City Island. The friendly construction manager smiled and waved as she worked on many projects in the area and was loved by the locals.

– – A very nice lady. Very independent.

DIANA ROCCO: A memorial now stands where she was killed a day ago by what appeared to be her friend. Police are investigating the possibility that it was the friendly demeanor and smile that led 66-year-old Geraldo Reyes to shoot her six times around 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.

JAMES VINEGAR: He works as a craftsman in this field. So he often comes by on his bike. She always has a friendly smile for him, speaks to him. She came by yesterday. She’s bringing her a sandwich … He’s bringing her a sandwich. He leaves. They have some kind of discussion that we don’t know about.

DIANA ROCCO: Reyes often brought Mass Food on his bike, but Mass’s boyfriend was there on her lunch break yesterday. Reyes later returned with a stolen 44-caliber Smith and Wesson that had been brought from a retired police officer’s home where he had been doing manual labor.

The story goes on

JAMES VINEGAR: We don’t know what made him do it. But there was no relationship with these two.

DIANA ROCCO: Mass’ friend was able to drive Reyes down in his car and held him until the nearby IRS agent made an arrest. Her death and these strange events struck many in disbelief.

Joel Abrams: It’s shocking because she had a lot of feelings for people, especially the people she worked with.

DIANA ROCCO: And that’s the feeling of the people here on City Island tonight. They are just shocked by all of this and how events played out yesterday. The police have all of this on a surveillance video that they are now reviewing. The suspect here, Reyes, is staying in the hospital tonight. He is likely to be charged. We live …