Family of man charged in DoorDash shooting confronts reporter outside courtroom
Incident unfolds as jury reviews video and legal standards in second day of deliberations in high-profile Chester shooting trial
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A tense moment unfolded outside Orange County Court during a break in jury deliberations in the high-profile trial of Chester Highway Superintendent John Reilly.
While News 12 was gathering video of Reilly and his family outside the courthouse, one of his relatives walked into a News 12 reporter with an umbrella. Another relative, identified as Reilly’s mother, pushed a foam square toward the reporter’s face before it was blocked.
Reilly’s attorney, Thomas Kenniff, later told News 12 the family is “camera shy.”
The incident comes as jurors continue deliberating in a case that has drawn national attention following the May 2025 shooting of a DoorDash driver at Reilly’s home on Valerie Drive in Chester.
Now in their second day of deliberations, jurors are focusing on key evidence and legal standards central to the case.
Jurors sent a note asking to review three things: surveillance video of the shooting, the charge of first-degree assault under a theory of depraved indifference, and the legal definition of “reasonableness” as it relates to self-defense.
Video shown in court captures the shooting, appearing to show Reilly fire twice toward the ground before raising his arm and firing a third shot toward the victim’s car as he was leaving.
The judge re-explained the depraved indifference charge, describing it as reckless conduct that creates a grave and unjustifiable risk of death and shows an utter disregard for human life.
Jurors were told prosecutors must prove Reilly caused serious physical injury through reckless conduct that created a grave risk of death - and that his actions were not justified.
The jury also asked for additional guidance on what qualifies as “reasonable” under the law - a key issue in Reilly’s claim of self-defense.
Reilly's attorney said the jury's questions show they are carefully weighing the evidence.
"The jury is really willing to examine the evidence, not just focus on 30 to 40 seconds of video that really doesn't tell the whole story, and we think we will have a very good chance of getting a just verdict," Kenniff said.
There is no dispute that Reilly fired the shots that struck 24-year-old Alpha Barry. The central question in the case is whether his actions meet the legal standard for justification.
Reilly is facing 14 counts, including attempted murder, assault and multiple weapons charges. He was a federally licensed firearms dealer, and prosecutors say the weapons charges stem from additional firearms found in his home that were not properly permitted under New York law.
If convicted on the top charge, Reilly faces up to 25 years in prison.
