NEW YORK — A 24-year-old Black man was shot in the back by a town official in New York after he got lost and asked for directions while en route to deliver food for DoorDash in the town of Chester.
The incident happened on Friday after the man stopped at several homes seeking directions when he had problems navigating with an app. He then approached the home of John Reilly III, the town’s highway superintendent, according to the New York State Police. Chester is about 50 miles north of New York City.
Police said Reilly told the driver to “get off his property” and fired several shots at the delivery driver as he was trying to drive away.
The driver was hospitalized with serious injuries but is in stable condition, police said. The DoorDash driver was not identified by police.
Reilly was charged with first-degree assault, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm, police said. Police said Reilly is a federally licensed firearms dealer.
Reilly was arrested and arraigned on Saturday. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday.
NYSP said the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation will continue the investigation in coordination with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the ATF.
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