Orange County News
For Immediate Release Contact: Ryan Greenbaum
January 17, 2023 845.615.3657, 845.415.0868c
District Attorney Hoovler Details State Prison Sentence
in Town of Wallkill Shooting Case
Defendant Previously Pled Guilty to Assault in the First Degree for Shooting Outside
Wallkill Restaurant
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, Hector Luna, Jr., 28, of Wallkill, was sentenced to seven and a half (7.5) years in state prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision in connection with his guilty plea to Assault in the First Degree for having shot a man in front of a Town of Wallkill Restaurant in 2021. The plea agreement in the case was reached after consultation with the victim of the crime, and in furtherance of avoiding his re-victimization by testifying at trial.
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.
“Violent crimes, such as those committed by this defendant, have significant and often life-long impact on crime victims,” 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 applaud the joint efforts of the various law enforcement agencies that together brought this defendant to justice. As I have made clear, gun violence is a priority for my Office and will not be tolerated.”
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.