A woman who was inside a car that drove into the wrong lane in upstate New York has been shot and killed by the owner of the home, who shot the car.
Kailyn Gillis, 20, and three friends were heading to a home in rural Washington County Saturday when they accidentally entered Kevin Monahan’s driveway in Hebron.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported that Monahan, 65, fired two shots from his porch into the car, one of which hit Gillis who was still in the car.
“This is a very sad case of some young man who was looking for a friend’s house and ended up at this man’s house,” He said Sheriff Jeff Murphy on Monday.
Monahan has been charged with second-degree murder.
A woman who was inside a car that drove into the wrong lane in upstate New York was shot and killed Saturday by a homeowner who fired into the car without provocation.
Kailyn Gillis, 20, and three friends were heading to a home in rural Washington County when they accidentally entered the wrong lane in Hebron, New York.
Kevin Monahan, 65, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, fired two shots from his porch into the car, one of which hit Gillis who was still in the car.
During his press conference Monday, Murphy spoke to a group of reporters and Gillis’ family.
The sheriff said the group did not initially realize they were at the wrong address, but began to withdraw when the homeowner allegedly started shooting.
As they were leaving the house, as soon as they determined, they were in the wrong house, the subject appeared on his porch, (and) for whatever reason and fired two shots. “One of them hit the car Kailyn was in,” Murphy said.
Because the accident occurred in a rural area, the friends were unable to immediately call 911 for help.
The group had to travel miles to a nearby town in order to call first responders.
The Washington County sheriff said Minham was only taken into custody after officers had been “back and forth” with him.
He was uncooperative with the patrols at the scene. ‘After almost an hour of talking back and forth, he was arrested,’ Murphy said.
The sheriff did not comment on the weapon used, but said investigators do not believe Monahan has any reason to believe he is in danger.
Murphy added, “There was no reason for Mr. Monahan to feel threatened, especially since it appeared the vehicles were leaving at the time.”
He is currently being held in the Warren County Jail.
The group had to travel miles to a nearby town in order to call first responders
“I know for a fact that she comes from a good family. “A very good family and I know them personally and she’s a little girl who was taken so far,” said Sheriff Jeff Murphy.
Friends remembered Gillies over the weekend as a gentle soul who loved animals
Friends remembered Gillies over the weekend as a gentle soul who loved animals.
“I know for a fact that she comes from a good family. ‘A very good family and I know them personally and she’s a little girl who was taken very young,’ Murphy said.
“Kaelyn Gillis, we will miss you so much,” Chuchi Stark wrote in a Facebook tribute.
I’ve known you since my Barbie days with my kids. Since then, I have remained such a lovely, kind, and loving person,” the post continued.
You’re still the sweetest, most loving child I know. You love dogs even though we all know a certain dog was mean to you when you were younger.
“Kaylin, rest easy, I’m sure Roxie Roo is by your side right now while you look at us with displeasure. Thank you for all the fun memories you shared with me, Lipsha, and Loren. I’m glad I had the pleasure of getting to know you,” the post concludes.
a GoFundMe Since then friends have started him to help cover funeral expenses.
The fundraiser has brought in just over $38,000 of its $50,000 goal as of Monday.
What a terrible tragedy. My deepest condolences,” one donor wrote.
I remember Kaylin as a little girl hanging out with us at our sleepover. My thoughts are with the family, wrote another.
I am so sorry to read this devastating news. This is the second GoFundMe donation I’ve made today to the families of young people who accidentally went to the wrong address. One commenter said enough.
The person making the donation was referring to the recent shooting of 16-year-old musician and researcher Ralph Jarl in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday.
“Kailyn Gillis, we will miss you so much,” his friend Chuchi Stark wrote in a Facebook tribute.
Since then, GoFundMe friends have started to help cover funeral expenses
Ralph Jarl, 16, was shot twice in the head by a white man after he accidentally walked into the wrong house while he was going to collect his siblings.
Andrew Lister, 85, has been found guilty of two felony counts related to the April 13 shooting of Ralph Jarl, which Kansas City prosecutors said was racially motivated.
Clay County District Attorney Zachary Thompson announced charges against Andrew Lister Monday afternoon
It was said that Ralph, in the middle, was trying to pick up his younger siblings from a friend’s house, but went to the wrong address
Jarl, a black teenager, was shot and killed by an 85-year-old white homeowner whose doorbell Jarl rang after mistaking the house for the one from which he was to pick up his brothers.
Yar was shot twice in the head, allegedly by local landlord Andrew Lister, through Lister’s locked door.
Lester has since been charged with first-degree assault.
“I can tell you there is a racial element to the case,” Clay County District Attorney Zachary Thompson said Monday.
Lester’s bond is set at $200,000. If convicted, he could face life in prison for assault.
