A 71-year-old Long Island man was arrested for shooting a stranger who chased him in front of a Starbucks over the weekend, cops and prosecutors said.
John Rech wounded the 21-year-old man just before 5 a.m. Saturday outside the coffee shop at 1 Wall St. in Huntington, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.
It’s unclear why the younger unidentified Fort Salonga man was running after Rech, but the suspect shot him in the stomach and leg, authorities said.
The 21-year-old underwent surgery for serious but non-life-threatening wounds at Huntington Hospital, according to cops and the court doc.
Rech of Huntington was arrested and charged with felony assault, cops said.
He had a valid license for the gun, which was recovered, according to authorities.
He was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail, $50,000 bond or $250,000 partially secured bond and is set to reappear in court Jan. 15, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
Rech’s lawyer, Robert Macedonio, said he is confident his client will ultimately walk free.
“John is a licensed firearm holder authorized to have concealed carry,” Macedonio told The Post by phone Monday. “And we are gathering all the video footage from several locations in Huntington Village where this incident took place.
“And we believe, once we obtain all that, it will show that Mr. Rech acted appropriately within the confounds of the law and these charges will be dismissed.”
