Setauket, NY - February 12, 2015 - A former American Express executive was sentenced to 22 years in prison today for the homicide of a Setauket man, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.
Brett Knight hid in the bushes next to the victims’ house on Upper Sheep Pasture Road on the evening of September 24, 2013 and fired his .40 caliber Smith & Wesson eleven times through the kitchen window, killing Ross Reisner, 50, and grazing the arm of Reisner’s companion, Kevin Murray.
The 47 year old Utah native met the victims in the early 1990’s and moved into their home after American Express fired him after 18 years of employment. Knight’s relationship with the pair deteriorated when he became convinced they interfered in his wrongful termination lawsuit filed against Am Ex. Knight settled out of court with the company and was eventually evicted from his basement apartment after he assaulted Kevin Murray in 2010.
Knight told homicide detectives Reisner and Murray betrayed him and destroyed his life.
In December, he pleaded guilty to murder in the second degree, second-degree attempted murder, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and three counts of aggravated harassment.