Man Who Tried To Kill Wallkill Restaurant Patron Enters Plea

WALLKILL, NY — A Wallkill man entered a plea in a shooting outside an Orange County restaurant in 2021.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said that Hector Luna Jr., 28, of Wallkill pleaded guilty in Orange County Court Thursday to first-degree assault.

Under the plea agreement, and after consultation with the victim, the district attorney’s office said it will recommend Luna serve seven-and-one-half years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced Jan. 17.

Prosecutors said Luna shot a man outside the You You Asian Restaurant around 9:15 p.m. in the town of Wallkill April 14, 2021.

The victim of the shooting had been dining in the restaurant just before the shooting, police said.

Emergency personnel and the Town of Wallkill Police Department responded, and the injured man was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Luna fled to Pennsylvania and was taken into custody at the Hampton Inn in Pike County, Pennsylvania, and waived extradition to face charges in New York.

Hoovler said the plea spares the victim the additional trauma of reliving the incident in front of a jury.

“The defendant’s admitted conduct highlights the terrifying consequences of random gun violence,” he said.

“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,” Hoovler said.