A jury has now been seated in Orange County Court for the trial of a Chester town official accused of shooting and permanently injuring a DoorDash delivery driver.

Opening statements began Monday in the case against Chester Highway Superintendent John Reilly, giving jurors their first look at the defense’s explanation for the May 2, 2025 shooting.

Reilly’s attorney told jurors that the defendant was home with his wife and 12-year-old daughter on the night in question when his daughter alerted him that there was a stranger at the door.

According to the defense, Reilly tried asking the man what house he was looking for, but didn’t get an answer. The defense claims the driver asked twice to come inside the house to charge his phone.

Prosecutors dispute that claim, saying the driver never asked to come inside.

Instead, prosecutors say the man at the door was a 24-year-old DoorDash delivery driver who had recently come to the United States legally from Guinea, West Africa on a visa. He was living with his sister in Middletown and taking English classes at SUNY Orange.

Prosecutors say the driver got lost while making deliveries after his phone battery died and went to Reilly’s door asking if he could charge his phone for a few minutes.

They say the driver apologized before leaving, saying, “I’m sorry. Have a good day.”

Part of the encounter was captured on surveillance video, including exclusive leaked Ring footage obtained by News 12 shortly after the shooting. The video appears to show Reilly firing as the driver tries to leave in his car.

Prosecutors say Reilly fired three shots with a .45 caliber handgun. One of those bullets struck the driver in the back and pierced his intestine.

Despite being seriously injured, prosecutors say the driver managed to drive away and briefly stopped at a nearby gas station before continuing home to Middletown. His sister called 911 when he arrived, and he was rushed to the hospital.

Doctors performed emergency surgery that night, removing about two feet of his intestine and placing a colostomy bag. The victim later underwent additional surgeries due to complications.

Reilly’s attorney told jurors the defendant became nervous after the man remained on the property and went inside to retrieve his gun.

When the car was still there, the defense says Reilly fired what they described as three warning shots.

The defense also argued that Reilly believed the way the car was parked near an access road was suspicious and feared others might be involved.

Reilly’s attorney told jurors that ultimately, the defendant made a mistake but did not commit a crime, saying he was trying to protect his family.

Investigators later recovered the .45 caliber handgun used in the shooting, a shoulder holster and ammunition from Reilly’s home.

Authorities say that the firearm was legally owned by Reilly. However, investigators also found seven additional operable pistols in the residence that prosecutors say were not properly licensed under New York State law.

Reilly was a federally licensed firearms dealer, which allowed him to possess firearms for business purposes. Prosecutors say the additional charges relate to how those weapons were allegedly improperly stored and permitted under state law.

Reilly is charged with attempted murder, several assault charges and multiple weapons offenses.

His wife was separately charged with tampering with physical evidence for allegedly deleting surveillance video after the shooting.

Jurors will next hear testimony in the case as the trial moves forward. The victim is expected to testify.

The trial is expected to last about two weeks.