On a spring day in the Bronx, 52-year-old Lizbeth Mass, a female construction flagger known for her friendly demeanor, was fatally shot while on the job. The incident, which stunned the typically quiet community of City Island, occurred on April 14, 2021. Mass was a familiar and welcoming presence at the construction site on City Island Avenue, where she directed traffic with a smile.
Many in the neighborhood affectionately referred to her as 'the mayor of City Island' due to her warm and outgoing nature.
The man responsible for her death was 66-year-old Jose Everaldo Reyes, a local handyman who had become acquainted with Mass. Reyes would frequently visit her at the construction site, sometimes bringing her sandwiches. His friendly gestures, however, masked a deeper infatuation. On the day of the shooting, Reyes discovered that Mass was in a relationship when her boyfriend, Dwayne Walker, was also at the site. This realization reportedly sent Reyes into a jealous rage.
Reyes left the area only to return a short time later on a bicycle, armed with a revolver. He approached Mass and shot her multiple times. Walker witnessed the horrific event and immediately took action to stop the fleeing gunman. He pursued Reyes in his car, striking him and knocking him to the ground. Walker then physically subdued Reyes with the help of bystanders until law enforcement arrived. Lizbeth Mass was rushed to a nearby hospital, but tragically, she succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead.
Jose Everaldo Reyes was taken into custody at the scene. He was subsequently arrested and charged with murder, manslaughter, and criminal possession of a weapon. Following a 15-day trial, a jury found Reyes guilty of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In February 2024, a Bronx Supreme Court Justice sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison for the senseless killing of a woman described by her loved ones as the life of the party and a cherished mother.
