Gun Shooting at Huntington Village Starbucks

By Ishan Shah

Multiple rounds of gunfire erupted last week outside the Starbucks coffee shop in downtown Huntington, sending a local resident to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds.

Arrested is Huntington resident John Rech, age 71, of Huntington.

Rech claimed that the younger man assaulted and chased him, which forced him to draw his gun and open fire outside the Starbucks.

Police say the incident occurred after a dispute led to the older man being threatened and chased by the 21-year-old man. During the confrontation, the older man allegedly fired multiple shots, striking the younger man in the stomach and leg.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and treated for his injuries, which were reported to be non-life-threatening.

The shooter was taken into custody at the scene without further incident and later charged with multiple offenses, including criminal possession of a weapon and reckless endangerment. Officials have not yet released details explaining what initially caused the altercation, and the investigation remains ongoing.

The suspect’s defense attorney, Robert Macedonio, maintained his client’s innocence and cooperation with authorities.

“He is 100% cooperating with the District Attorney’s Office and the police department, and I believe he is going to be fully exonerated. The charges will be dismissed,” Macedonio predicted.

Residents expressed concern about the shooting occurring in a busy public area during the daytime. One local resident said the incident was unsettling, adding, “Definitely different. Hopefully, they’ll find out what happened, and if they do know, hopefully they’ll let us know.”

Authorities continue to review surveillance footage and witness statements as they work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting.