An official from a New York town is accused of shooting at a DoorDash driver who was lost and had rung his doorbell seeking directions during a night delivery on May 2.
According to the New York State Police, John J. Reilly III, the Town of Chester Highway Superintendent, fired several shots at the 24-year-old delivery driver, hitting him in the back as he approached Reilly’s home in Chester, NY.
The driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, was carrying out a delivery for the well-known food delivery service in the wooded Valerie Drive neighborhood when he became disoriented with his navigation and went to multiple homes asking for help with directions.
“I need help,” the West Africa-native cried out in a neighbor’s doorbell camera video, according to WABC.
Reilly was inside his Orange County home, about 60 miles north of Manhattan, when the driver approached the house at 9:50 p.m.
The town official warned the driver to get off his property before he drew his gun and shot at the stranger several times, police said
The worker was hit once in the back as he attempted to leave the residential neighborhood in his car.
The driver’s family recalled the harrowing encounter he had with Reilly.
“He asked the guy, ‘Is this your order?’ The guy said, ‘No,’ and proceeds to say, ‘Get off my property.’ He walks away, he’s going about his day, going to his car, and the guy tries to murder him,” one relative of driver told the outlet. “He just started shooting at him and he thought his life was over.”
Police ruled the driver wasn’t doing anything suspicious. and was “just out there doing his job.”
“There’s nothing to indicate the victim had any nefarious intentions, he’s just out there doing his job, trying to make a food delivery,” New York State Police Capt. Joseph Kolek told reporters.
Not knowing what to do, the driver drove back to his home in nearby Middletown before going to the hospital.
The man’s wounds were listed as serious but non-fatal, police said.
The driver had recently moved to the US from his native Guinea-Bissau to live with his family and was working for DoorDash to earn money.
“No one should ever fear for their safety just for trying to make deliveries in their neighborhood,” a spokesperson told the outlet. “We’re devastated by this senseless act of violence.”
The Post has reached out to DoorDash.
Officials were alerted to the gunshot wound by hospital staff and arrested Reilly on May 3.
Reilly, a federally licensed firearm dealer, was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm.
He was booked into Orange County Jail on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 9.
The driver’s family found consolation knowing their loved one wasn’t killed.
“We’re not a hateful family, or anything. Yes, the situation makes us angry, but we’re just very grateful that he’s alive, and we want this guy to get the punishment he deserves because he tried to kill him,” the relative added.
Town of Chester Supervisor Brandon Holdridge said he wouldn’t take a position on the case during the investigation, adding Reilly is “innocent until proven guilty.”
“The Town Board and I are aware of the ongoing situation concerning Highway Superintendent John Reilly. We are deeply troubled by what has been reported so far. We hope the person who was injured in the incident makes a full and healthy recovery,” Holdridge said.
New York State Troop F took over the investigation after the Chester Police Department recused itself from the case.
“As an elected official, the Town Board does not have control over Mr. Reilly’s future as Highway Superintendent,” Holdridge added.
He said the town will continue to run regular operations despite the investigation.
