John Reilly III: Orange County Highway Superintendent and His Wife Indicted in DoorDash Shooting Case
An Orange County grand jury has indicted a highway superintendent of the Town of Chester, John Reilly III, 48, on charges of attempted murder. Authorities say he allegedly shot a DoorDash delivery driver who mistakenly drove onto his property on May 2, 2025.
Reilly’s wife, Selina Nelson-Reilly, has also been charged in connection with the case.
Prosecutors say she deleted video evidence from the couple’s home surveillance system following the shooting to cover up the crime.
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| John Reilly III |
According to investigators, the victim, was a West African immigrant who lived in Middletown.
On the night of the shooting, he was working as a DoorDash driver when he became lost while trying to deliver food in Chester’s Valerie Drive neighborhood.
Police say the driver had approached several nearby homes to ask for directions after his navigation system stopped working.
When the driver arrived at Reilly’s residence, he rang the doorbell while holding a plastic bag containing the order.
Doorbell camera footage, later obtained by The Times Union, shows Reilly exiting his home wearing a cross-body holster and firing multiple rounds.
In the video, Reilly can be heard shouting “Go!” twice before pointing his gun toward a vehicle with its headlights facing his house. As the car began backing away, Reilly fired again.
Moments later, another shot rang out, followed by what appeared to be a cry of pain before the video cuts off.
According to police reports, one bullet traveled through the rear of the driver’s vehicle and struck him in the back.
The victim was rushed to Garnet Health Medical Center, where he underwent multiple surgeries, as per Times Union.
Captain Joseph Kolek of the New York State Police confirmed that the driver survived but sustained serious injuries.
“He was simply trying to find the right address when this occurred,” Kolek said.
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| John Reilly III |
Reilly was arrested the following day and charged with first-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of a firearm.
Investigators later confirmed that Reilly, was a federally licensed firearms dealer, and he had several weapons registered under his name.
On June 9, 2025, he was arraigned in Orange County Court on an expanded list of charges, including attempted murder, multiple counts of assault, and eight counts of firearm possession.
Reilly’s attorney, Thomas Kenniff, claims his client acted in self-defense. “The situation is far more complex than it appears,” Kenniff said in a statement. “Mr. Reilly’s intention was not to cause harm, but to protect his family after the man approached his home without invitation.”
Kenniff also added that the driver “was not wearing a uniform or carrying visible identification” and had allegedly entered a neighbor’s garage moments before approaching the Reilly home.
A DoorDash spokesperson responded to the incident, saying: “No one should ever fear for their safety just for trying to make deliveries in their neighborhood. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
While the shooting case was still under investigation, prosecutors said Reilly’s wife, Selina Nelson-Reilly, deliberately deleted 17 videos from the couple’s doorbell camera.
According to the District Attorney David Hoovler, she later texted a friend, saying she had permanently erased the footage.
She has since been indicted on charges of hindering prosecution and tampering with physical evidence. Investigators allege she also lied to detectives, claiming she “did not know anything about the shooting” and “denied that anyone had come to the house.”
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| The victim |
When the footage of the incident was later released by authorities, there was outrage across Chester and beyond, as Town officials and residents repeatedly called for Reilly’s resignation.
“While every individual is entitled to due process, these past ten days have demonstrated the seriousness of this shooting. The board no longer has confidence in Mr. Reilly’s ability to serve during his criminal proceedings,” said
Town Supervisor Brandon Holdridge in a statement.
“Public officials must act in the best interests of their communities. In that spirit, John, we are asking you to step aside,” Holdridge added.
State Senator James Skoufis also joined in the call, saying in a public statement that Reilly should “immediately resign his post” to ensure the town’s operations are not disrupted.
Despite mounting pressure, Reilly didn't step down, and he remains the elected highway superintendent, a position he has held since March 2021, after winning a full term that November.
Reilly has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to stand trial in February 2026. His wife’s case is being handled separately but will likely proceed alongside his in the Orange County Court system.
If convicted, Reilly could face decades in prison for the attempted murder and assault charges.
As the case continues, prosecutors say additional evidence — including forensic analysis and witness testimony — will play a key role in determining whether Reilly’s actions were a justified act of protection or a reckless shooting that nearly cost an innocent man his life.
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