Orange County News
For Immediate Release Contact: Ryan Greenbaum
October 21, 2022 845.615.3657, 845.415.0868c
District Attorney Hoovler Announces Plea
in Town of Wallkill Shooting Case
Defendant Pled Guilty to Assault in the First Degree for Shooting Outside
Wallkill Restaurant
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Thursday, October 20, 2022, Hector Luna, Jr., 28, of Wallkill, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Assault in the First Degree. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Luna pled guilty, and after consultation with the victim of the crime, the District Attorney’s Office will recommend that Luna serve seven and one half (7.5) years in state prison and five (5) years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced on January 17, 2023.
The indictment that charged Luna alleged that he shot a man outside of the You You Asian Restaurant and Bar, located at 465 Route 211, in the Town of Wallkill on April 14, 2021, at approximately 9:15 PM. The victim of the shooting had been dining in the restaurant just prior to the shooting. Emergency medical personnel and the Town of Wallkill Police Department responded to the location. The injured man was transported to the hospital for treatment.
Luna was taken into custody at the Hampton Inn hotel located in Pike County, Pennsylvania, and waived extradition to face the charges in New York. The Town of Wallkill Police Department were assisted in the investigation by the New York State Police, the City of Middletown Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Town of Woodbury Police Department, the FBI Safe Streets Taskforce, the Port Jervis Police Department, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, the Eastern Pike Regional Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Pike County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked all the state, local and federal law enforcement officials, from New York and Pennsylvania who aided in the investigation and eventual apprehension of Luna.
“The defendant’s admitted conduct highlights the terrifying consequences of random gun violence,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “This disposition spares the victim the additional trauma of reliving this horrific incident in front of a jury. I hope the victim continues on the road to recovery and is able to take comfort knowing that this defendant will be prevented from committing further harm by the significant state prison sentence expected. I thank the dedicated and cooperative efforts of all of the varied law enforcement agencies who came together to investigate the senseless crime and to track down the defendant and bring him to justice. My Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of violent felony offenses such as this one.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelle Grimmer.
This criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.