A city official in New York state was arrested for taking pictures a DoorDash driver who had come to his residence to ask for instructions after getting misplaced within the neighborhood whereas attempting to make a supply.
John J. Reilly III, 48, now faces felony expenses for the taking pictures, together with first-degree assault, legal possession of a firearm, and second-degree legal possession of a weapon.
In a information launch, New York State Police mentioned the taking pictures occurred on Might 2 at 9:50 p.m. at Reilly’s residence within the City of Chester.
The DoorDash driver was driving round Reilly’s neighborhood that evening, attempting to find a house the place he was purported to make a supply. After shedding GPS capabilities, he stopped at a number of properties to ask residents for instructions.
In doorbell surveillance video obtained by News12 Westchester, the sufferer is seen standing on the porch of 1 residence saying, “I’ve DoorDash. My cellphone is damaged. I want some assist.”
The final residence he stopped at was Reilly’s.
Police say Reilly solely advised the DoorDash driver to get off his property “earlier than firing a number of photographs on the sufferer as he tried to go away in his car, putting the sufferer as soon as within the again, inflicting critical bodily accidents.”
An Orange County spokesperson advised The New York Occasions that the sufferer required emergency surgical procedure for accidents which can be “critical, however not presently anticipated to be deadly.”
Authorities haven’t launched the sufferer’s id presently. Relations didn’t establish him both, however advised native information retailers that the 24-year-old had just lately moved to a neighboring city from West Africa. He speaks French and was finding out English at SUNY Orange in Middletown. He had been working for DoorDash for a month.
“He did cease at our home,” one home-owner advised News12. “I assumed perhaps my spouse ordered DoorDash. He didn’t appear to talk good English.”
The sufferer’s household mentioned that his cellphone had died earlier than the taking pictures, so he drove himself to a fuel station to cost it and name police. A retailer clerk referred to as police, however the sufferer left and drove himself residence, the place first responders met him. From there, they rushed him to the hospital.
City Supervisor Brandon Holdridge launched an announcement on Fb saying, “We’re deeply troubled by what has been reported to this point,” Holdridge mentioned. “We hope the one who was injured within the incident makes a full and wholesome restoration.”
Holdridge added that native authorities have recused themselves from the taking pictures investigation since Reilly is a city official, and that state police will look into the incident.
Reilly was elected Freeway Superintendent for the City of Chester in 2021. Police say he’s additionally a federally licensed firearms supplier, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is concerned within the ongoing investigation.
Reilly was booked into the Orange County Jail, and his bail was set at $250,000. He’ll be again in court docket on Might 9.
State police say the DoorDash driver was within the fallacious place on the fallacious time and are investigating whether or not the taking pictures was a hate crime, in response to News12 Westchester.
“There’s nothing to point that the sufferer had any nefarious intentions, he was simply on the market doing his job attempting to make a meals supply,” New York State Police Capt. Joseph Kolek advised WABC.
In an announcement in regards to the taking pictures, a DoorDash spokesperson mentioned, “Nobody ought to ever concern for his or her security only for attempting to make deliveries of their neighborhood. We’re devastated by this mindless act of violence.”
This incident was much like a 2023 taking pictures in Hebron, New York, the place a 66-year-old home-owner opened fireplace and fatally shot a 20-year-old passenger in a automobile that had mistakenly entered his driveway. The group she was with had been attempting to find a good friend’s residence within the space. The shooter was sentenced to 25 years to life in jail final yr for second-degree homicide.
One other related case that drew nationwide consideration was the taking pictures of Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who was shot twice by 86-year-old Andrew Lester after he went to the fallacious residence whereas attempting to choose up his youthful siblings in Kansas Metropolis. Yarl survived his accidents. Lester pleaded responsible to second-degree assault earlier this yr, however died only a few days earlier than his sentencing.
