Kevin Monahan, the ‘angry’ New York landlord accused of killing 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis when the car she was in accidentally spun into her driveway, was charged with murder on Friday.
Authorities said Gillis was traveling in her boyfriend’s SUV with two other friends through the city of Hebron just before 10 p.m. when the group made a wrong turn onto Monahan’s property.
They were trying to turn back when Monahan came out onto his porch and fired two shots with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy, who claimed Monahan only showed no remorse.
Monahan, 65, was charged Friday with second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence. He pleaded not guilty, according to CNN.
His next court days are scheduled for July 28, with the trial expected to begin in earnest by September.
Kevin Monahan, the ‘angry’ New York landlord accused of killing 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis when the car she was in accidentally spun into her driveway was charged with murder on Friday
In early May, Kurt Mausert, his attorney, claimed in court that Warren County Judge Adam Michelini only considered damages caused and Monahan’s history of gun use, but noted that prior to April 15, Monahan had never been charged with any gun-related crimes, according to for WNYT.
Michelini had said he chose to hold Monahan without bail on second-degree murder charges, saying he was known in the community to be impulsive and the media scrutiny gave him a reason to flee.
When officers arrived at Monahan’s home to investigate the shooting, he refused to come out, Murphy said. Authorities spoke to him through a 911 dispatcher and in person for about an hour before he was taken into custody, according to the sheriff.
Kevin Monahan, 65, has been charged with second-degree murder and is still being held in Warren County Jail, officials said.
Murphy noted in an interview with CNN that Monahan had already arranged for legal representation before he walked out of his house and turned himself in to the cops.
Additional charges for Monahan may be forthcoming.
Speaking in an interview with BNC News Gillis’ boyfriend Blake Walsh, 19, revealed he was the one driving the fateful night.
“We thought we were at the right address. We had no cell service to figure it out. As soon as we realized we were in the wrong place, we started leaving, and that’s when it all happened,” Walsh said.
He said a friend of his in the car alerted him to Monahan’s shot, prompting him to suddenly turn around and drive away.
“I tried to hit the accelerator as fast as I could, and that’s when the fatal blow happened.”
After traveling about five miles, the group finally made it to an area where they had cell service. They immediately called 911, but unfortunately it was too late.
“I want to believe it was instantaneous. I hope it was. I pray it does,’ Walsh said through tears.
He added that the drive to get cell service felt like it only took 30 seconds, “the adrenaline was so high”.
Monahan’s property is on Patterson Hill Road in the city of Hebron near the Adirondack Mountains
Police say Monahan came out of his house and fired two shots with a 12-gauge shotgun
Gillis and his friends were looking for a party when they came across Monahan’s house
In an interview with CNNMausert said his client told him that several vehicles came down his driveway that night, including a motorcycle, revving their engines and behaving threateningly.
He also said News10 the incident was a “series of tragic mistakes, made by more than one person”.
‘The situation where we have an elderly gentleman and his elderly wife living in the dark woods of Washington County with three vehicles roaring down his driveway at a high rated speed, turned on their lights at his house, and won’t drive away when he pulls away’ turn on the spotlights were so definitely causing an element of fear on Mr. Monahan’s part,” Mausert added.
Alcohol, drugs or mental illness are not believed to have played a role in the shooting, the Times-Herald reported.
The newspaper said there had been no reports of increased thefts or any reason for owners to be extra vigilant recently.
But town supervisor Brian Campbell told the Times-Herald that Monahan had previously attended local council meetings to discuss issues such as road repairs. Campbell described the suspect as “very reasonable”.
Gillis is pictured here with her longtime boyfriend Blake Walsh, 19. The two had hoped to marry one day
In an interview with NBC News, Walsh described how life is shattered after Gillis’ death.
Monahan is pictured leaving the courtroom after being denied a second bail on Thursday
Following the initial bail hearing on Monahan on April 19, Andrew Gillis – Kaylin’s father – said he hoped the accused shooter “dies in jail”.
He thanked Judge Michelini for his decision to deny Monahan bail, saying, “Kaylin deserves justice.”
“I want to talk about Kaylin’s boyfriend,” Gillis continued. “He wanted to marry my daughter. I would have loved that.
Walsh met Kaylin when he was a sophomore at Schuylerville High School, where she graduated in 2021.
He said the couple often joked about being the “2%,” a reference to the 2% of high school sweethearts who end up getting married. They had been together for four years.
In his address to the press, Kaylin’s father said Walsh now blames himself for Kaylin’s death, but his father said, “It’s Kevin Monahan’s fault.”
