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A town official from New York has been sentenced following an incident where he shot a DoorDash delivery driver who had come to his residence seeking directions.
John Reilly, the 49-year-old Highway Superintendent for the Town of Chester, received a 17-year prison sentence on Monday. Additionally, he will be required to complete five years of supervision after his release, stemming from a shooting incident that occurred last May.
In a statement, Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler remarked, “The severe sentence handed to this defendant appropriately reflects his callous disregard for human life. The victim now faces life-changing injuries due to the defendant’s violent actions.”
He continued, “This case is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by firearms in the hands of individuals who should not possess them. I hope the victim and their family find some solace in knowing that the police and prosecutors have worked to secure a measure of justice.”
Reilly was found guilty of assault and illegal weapon possession after he shot at Alpha Barry, an African migrant, and his Toyota Corolla on the evening of May 2, 2025.
Barry, 24, had approached Reilly’s house in Chester with a bag of food when he forgot the address of the house he’d been tasked to deliver to when his phone battery died.
But, the situation escalated with Reilly retrieving his .45 caliber gun and shouting “Go” before firing repeatedly at Barry’s car.
One of the shots fired pierced the car and struck Barry in his lower back, leaving him with “devastating injuries,” according to officials.
Barry, who had only moved to the US in October 2024, drove away from the scene before collapsing at home.
He was forced to undergo emergency surgery, and two feet of his small bowel were removed after the .45 caliber bullet didn’t exit his body.
“For half a year, my life was dictated by a colostomy bag,” Barry wrote in a statement read out by Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mangold at the start of the sentencing, according to WAMC.
“This was not just a medical necessity. It was a constant source of physical pain and deep emotional stress.
“The simple everyday act of using the bathroom became a source of anxiety and trauma. I lived in constant fear and discomfort, never knowing when the next moment of pain or embarrassment would occur. This experience isolated me from the world.”
The shooting was caught on Reilly’s doorbell camera – and his wife Selina Nelson-Reilly admitted to illegally deleting more than 12 videos that captured the crime, the Times-Union reported.
She struck a plea deal that saw her put on probation for a year, and forced to do 200 hours of community service.
During his trial, Reilly’s team tried to claim he opened fire in self-defense as Barry had turned up with food from a restaurant he hadn’t ordered from.
Jurors didn’t buy the claim as he was convicted on several assault charges – and prosecutors lobbied for a 24-year sentence.
Hoovler said the 17-year sentence “justly reflects” the nature of Reilly’s crimes – while Barry’s lawyer, Rudyard Whyte, said that “we accept the verdict, we don’t take any pleasure in it, but we accept it based on the gravity of the situation.”
Reilly was initially indicted on attempted murder charges, but jurors didn’t consider it after instructions from the judge.
He was elected in 2021 and had given no indication he would step down from his role.
Brandon Holdridge, the Chester supervisor, called for Reilly’s resignation, telling News12 he had become a “huge distraction.”
Reilly must resign as he’s convicted of a felony, according to state law, but his lawyer, Thomas Kenniff, said he will file an appeal.