‘Careless’ Upstate New York Teen Nearly Kills Girlfriend

A Hudson Valley teen is heading to prison for his "careless" act that nearly claimed the life of his girlfriend.

On Wednesday, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced a Hudson Valley was sentenced after he accidentally shot his girlfriend.

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In Orange County Court, 18-year-old Joseph Lightfoot of Wallkill was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison to be followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

“As I have said time and again, dangerous weapons in the hands of dangerous individuals are a recipe for disaster,” Hoovler said. “It is only through sheer luck that this offender’s careless choices caused a non-fatal injury. The significant sentence imposed highlights the commitment that my Office, together with our law enforcement partners, shares in our pursuit of gun offenders. We will continue to tirelessly work to ensure that illegal firearms and the criminals who use them are taken off our streets.”

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In May, he pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.

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On April 25, 2024, residents in the Village of Walden engaged in an argument with a relative regarding property they believed was stolen by the relative from their driveway. During the verbal argument, Lightfoot, his girlfriend and another man exited a truck and began a physical altercation with a man from Walden, officials say.

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During this altercation, Lightfoot pulled out a loaded unlicensed gun out of his hoodie and fired at the man.

The shot missed the man and hit the teen's girlfriend in the wrist and shattered the window of a car.

Lightfoot later admitted to members of the Village of Walden Police Department that he possessed the gun, for which he did not have a permit, and shot it during the altercation.

At the plea proceedings, Lightfoot admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm.

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“This defendant’s life-threatening actions endangered the lives of numerous people,” Hoovler stated. “While his careless choices thankfully did not result in the death of another, such an outcome was easily foreseeable under the circumstances.

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