New York Town Official Found Guilty of Shooting Lost DoorDash Driver

John Reilly III faces up to 25 years in prison for assault and firearms charges related to the 2025 shooting of delivery driver Alpha Oumar Barry.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 4:50am

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A New York town official, John Reilly III, was found guilty of multiple assault and firearms charges on Thursday, March 26, for shooting and injuring a lost DoorDash delivery driver, Alpha Oumar Barry, in May 2025. Reilly, the highway superintendent for the town of Chester, was convicted of first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree assault, and eight counts of criminal possession of a firearm. He faces up to 25 years in prison and was remanded to jail without bail after the verdict.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing debate around self-defense laws and the use of firearms, particularly in incidents involving innocent people who make simple mistakes. It also raises concerns about the potential for overreaction and the misuse of "stand your ground" laws, which have been at the center of several controversial cases in recent years.

The details

According to prosecutors, on May 2, 2025, Barry, a 24-year-old legal immigrant from Guinea, approached Reilly's home in Chester while making a food delivery, as his phone was dead. After Reilly asked Barry to leave, he went inside, retrieved a .45 caliber Glock pistol, and shot at Barry's car as he was driving away, striking him in the lower back. Barry underwent a four-hour surgery, during which more than two feet of his bowel was removed, and an ostomy bag was created. Authorities later executed a search warrant at Reilly's residence and recovered the weapon, as well as seven other illegally possessed pistols.

  • On May 2, 2025, the shooting incident occurred.
  • On May 3, 2025, Reilly was arrested.
  • On March 26, 2026, Reilly was found guilty by a jury.
  • On May 18, 2026, Reilly is scheduled to be sentenced.

The players

John Reilly III

The 49-year-old highway superintendent for the town of Chester, New York, who was convicted of shooting and injuring a DoorDash delivery driver.

Alpha Oumar Barry

The 24-year-old DoorDash delivery driver from Guinea who was shot by Reilly while attempting to leave Reilly's property.

David M. Hoovler

The Orange County District Attorney who prosecuted the case against Reilly.

Thomas Arthur Kenniff

The defense attorney for Reilly who said he plans to appeal the verdict.

Selina Nelson-Reilly

Reilly's wife, who was indicted for hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence related to the incident.

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What they’re saying

“This defendant's depraved indifference to human life was appalling and nearly resulted in the death of an innocent man. We can see firsthand the consequences of the use of dangerous firearms by an individual who had no business possessing a gun. ... I hope that the victim can continue to heal from the grievous wounds caused by this defendant's crimes.”

— David M. Hoovler, Orange County District Attorney

“As I've said earlier, the inclusion of the depraved indifference charge we don't think it should have been in the indictment to begin with. We don't think that should have been presented to the grand jury last year, and we don't think that it should have been allowed to go to the jury in this trial.”

— Thomas Arthur Kenniff, Defense Attorney

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on May 18, 2026 whether to sentence Reilly to up to 25 years in prison for the charges he was convicted of.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate around self-defense laws and the use of firearms, particularly in incidents involving innocent people who make simple mistakes. It raises concerns about the potential for overreaction and the misuse of "stand your ground" laws, which have been at the center of several controversial cases in recent years.