Teen Gets Prison Time For Wild Shot During Argument In Wallkill

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — An 18-year-old accused of shooting his girlfriend's wrist in Walden while trying to shoot someone else with an illegal gun has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced Thursday.

"The significant sentence imposed highlights the commitment that my Office, together with our law enforcement partners, shares in our pursuit of gun offenders," Hoovler said in a statement about the sentencing. "We will continue to tirelessly work to ensure that illegal firearms and the criminals who use them are taken off our streets."

Wallkill resident Joseph Lightfoot was sentenced in Orange County Court Wednesday to the prison term plus five years of post-release supervision. In a deal with the DA's Office, Lightfoot had pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They had recommended he be sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors said Walden residents got in an argument April 25 with a relative regarding property they believed was stolen by the relative from their driveway.

As the argument escalated, Lightfoot, his girlfriend and another man got out of a nearby truck and began a fight with the man who had been accused, prosecutors said.

During the altercation, Lightfoot took a loaded, unlicensed pistol out of his hoodie, aimed at the resident and fired, striking his own girlfriend in the wrist and subsequently shattering the window of the truck.

Lightfoot admitted to police and the judge that he possessed the gun, for which he did not have a permit.

Hoovler thanked the Village of Walden Police for their investigation.

“As I have said time and again, dangerous weapons in the hands of dangerous individuals are a recipe for disaster,” he said. "It is only through sheer luck that this offender’s careless choices caused a non-fatal injury."