Suspect shot victim outside restaurant because he thought he was a cop (video)

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Orange County DA David Hoovler: "That cannot be tolerated..."

TOWN OF WALLKILL – “Old fashion police work” led police to arrest Hector Luna, 27, of the Town of Wallkill at the Hampton Inn in Matamoras, Pennsylvania in connection with the shooting of Charles Miller, 48, of Walden, who was having dinner at the You You Asian Restaurant on Route 211 in Wallkill on Wednesday night.

Wallkill Police Chief Robert Hertman said Luna shot Miller in the abdomen with a small caliber gun just because he thought he was a police officer.

“To see such a random act of violence in our town against a member of our community who was out enjoying dinner with his family, and whether he was chosen because the suspect thought he was a police officer or not, just the fact that it was a very random act of violence is very alarming,” he said. “It is a thriving commercial district where this occurred. It is the heart and soul of the economic engine in this town.”

Miller remains in “very serious condition” at Garnet Medical Center in Wallkill, a trauma center, Hertman said.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said targeting someone because he is thought to be a cop “is not going to be tolerated. People have to stand up. We need law enforcement. We need our police to be able to protect us.”

Luna is in the Pike County Jail awaiting extradition back to New York where he will be charged with armed assault and criminal possession of a weapon.