Who is Kevin Monahan? | The US Sun
ON THE evening of Saturday, April 15, 2023, Kaylin Gillis, 20, was fatally shot after pulling into the wrong driveway.
Here's everything we know about the man who allegedly fired at the car.
Who is Kevin Monahan?
Kevin Monahan is an upstate New York resident who allegedly shot at a car of four young adults who mistakenly pulled into his driveway.
Amongst the four was Kaylin Gillis who was fatally shot as the group was trying to turn their car around to leave the property.
The group of friends was looking for a friend's house at the time of the incident.
Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy described Monahan as a laborer who has no motive to shoot these individuals.
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Murphy said: "There was no reason for Mr. Monahan to feel threatened, especially as it appears the vehicle was leaving."
After the police got a call about the incident, officials arrived at the scene to arrest Monahan but he was uncommunicative and wouldn't leave his house.
After finally surrendering, Monahan was arrested, and by Monday, April 17, 2023, Monahan was charged with the murder of Kaylin Gillis.
On May 24, 2023, Monahan was charged with murder in the second degree, reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence, CNN reported. Monahan pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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A motive behind Monahan's alleged actions remains unclear.
Monahan's lawyer, Kurt Mausert, said his client hasn't had any previous convictions and has been living in Hebron, New York, for 30 years.
Mausert said: "My preliminary view of this case is that it was a series of errors which resulted in a tragedy. It is too soon to say more than that."
Sheriff Murphy declined to comment on whether any other weapons were found in Monahan's home.
Who was Kaylin Gillis?
Kaylin Gillis was a Schuylerville, New York native who graduated from Schuylerville High School in 2021.
While she was in high school, Gillis was a cheerleader. The Schuylerville Varsity Cheerleading Facebook page described Gillis as a "sweet girl, with a kind heart and big smile."
Eric Whiting, the father of one of the friends in the car wrote: "My daughter had her best friend killed right in front of her this weekend. She was a wonderful girl with a sweet soul, and a sick man with a gun took her life"
Sheriff Murphy, too, personally knew Gillis' family and described her as a girl who "for a fact that she comes from a good family."
A GoFundMe page has been made for the Gillis family. The page says any funds raised will be used "toward Kaylin’s funeral expenses and any immediate financial needs."
The page also read: "On behalf of the Gillis family, we would like to thank everyone who has offered their love and prayers as they embark on this incredibly difficult journey of grief and healing."
Is this case related to Ralph Yarl?
Kaylin Gillis' unfortunate death comes days after Ralph Yarl, 16, was shot after knocking on the wrong door in search of his siblings.
On April 13, 2023, Ralph Yarl, a Black honor-roll student, accidentally went to the wrong house in Kansas City, Missouri to pick up his siblings.
Andrew Lester, 84, opened the door and shot Yarl, once in the arm and in the head.
Yarl reportedly went to three different houses to seek help before he was assisted.
After being arrested Lester told officials he was "scared to death" by Yarl's size saying he had just laid himself to bed before his doorbell rang.
Ralph is expected to make a full recovery and Lester was charged with assault in the first degree and armed criminal action on April 17.
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Lester's charges could result in a life sentence.
Clay County Prosecutor Zachary Thompson said: "I can tell you there was a racial component to the case."
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