John Reilly was convicted of assault and criminal possession of a weapon after he fired his .45 caliber gun at Alpha Barry, an African migrant and DoorDash driver, on May 2, 2025.
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According to the New York Post, the 49-year-old Town of Chester Highway Superintendent was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Monday, May 18. He must also complete five years of post-release supervision under the terms of his sentencing because of the incident.
What Happened to the DoorDash Driver?
The 24-year-old Barry went to Reilly's home in Chester, New York, with a bag of food. He had forgotten the address he was supposed to deliver the order to after his phone battery died.
Reilly then retrieved his weapon. He began shouting "Go" and firing at the DoorDash driver's vehicle. One of the bullets pierced the car and hit Barry in the lower back.
Despite being shot, Barry managed to drive away and collapsed at home. The migrant, who moved to the United States in October 2024, then underwent emergency surgery. The bullet remained in his body, and two feet of his small bowel were removed.
"For half a year, my life was dictated by a colostomy bag," Barry wrote in a statement. It was read aloud by Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mangold at the start of the sentencing.
He continued, "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 Incident Was Caught On Camera
The sequence of events was recorded by Reilly's doorbell camera. However, his wife admitted to illegally deleting more than a dozen videos showing what happened. She made a deal that put her on probation for a year. She was also sentenced to perform 200 hours of community service.
Reilly's lawyer tried to claim self-defense from the DoorDash driver. He said after the sentencing 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 must resign from his role as Highway Superintendent if he's convicted of a felony, according to state law. However, his lawyer stated that Reilly will file an appeal.
