‘Has something to hide’: A lost DoorDash driver asked for directions. Then the homeowner just shot him

In a shocking display of recklessness, a New York town official, John J. Reilly III, shot and seriously injured a 24-year-old DoorDash delivery driver, Ricky Valencia, who had the misfortune of stopping outside his home to ask for directions.

Reilly, an elected highway superintendent and federally licensed firearms dealer, walked out of his house and opened fire on the delivery driver’s car after the driver approached his property seeking help. Reilly fired multiple shots, hitting the man in the back as he attempted to flee. The driver, whose phone had died, had already been seen on another neighbor’s doorbell camera pleading for help, saying, “I need help.” This was not a threatening or suspicious individual. He was a young immigrant from West Africa trying to do his job. Let’s not mince words: this was an outrageous abuse of power and a reckless disregard for human life.

Reilly’s actions highlight a glaring failure to responsibly handle firearms. As a federally licensed firearms dealer, Reilly should have been held to the highest standards of gun safety. Instead, he treated his weapon like a tool for intimidation and violence. Firing a “warning shot” – a practice widely discouraged by law enforcement and firearm safety experts – was bad enough. But to continue firing at a car as the driver fled crosses into outright criminal recklessness. There was no imminent threat, no justification for deadly force.

The racial dynamics of this incident demand scrutiny. Would Reilly have reacted the same way if the driver were white? It’s a question we cannot ignore. Though a spokesman for the Orange County district attorney’s office indicated the wounds weren’t expected to be fatal, they were described as “serious physical injuries.”

Reilly now faces serious charges: 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. Notably, the Chester Police Department recused itself from the case, leaving the investigation to the New York State Police. As of this reporting, Reilly has given no indication that he intends to step down from his position as highway superintendent. Apparently, in some corners of America, shooting at delivery personnel is not considered an automatic disqualifier for public office.

Federally licensed firearms dealers are supposed to be responsible stewards of the Second Amendment. Reilly’s actions undermine that trust entirely. His reckless use of a gun is a stark example of how gun owners can misinterpret their rights as a license to harm others without consequence.