Indictment Issued for New York Man in Fatal Shooting of Woman Mistakenly Entering His Driveway
A murder charge has been filed against Kevin Monahan, a man accused of fatally shooting a woman who was a passenger in a car that mistakenly entered his rural New York driveway. The indictment includes charges of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and tampering with physical evidence.
During his arraignment on Wednesday, Monahan pleaded not guilty to the charges. CNN reached out to Monahan’s attorney for a comment, but no response has been received at the time of reporting.
The incident occurred in Washington County, approximately 55 miles north of Albany, when a vehicle carrying 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis and other passengers inadvertently turned into Monahan’s driveway while searching for a friend’s house. Monahan allegedly opened fire on the vehicle, resulting in Gillis’ tragic death.
Blake Walsh, Gillis’ boyfriend and the driver of the car that night, stated in a phone interview with NBC that they believed they had arrived at the correct address but lacked cell service to confirm. As soon as they realized their mistake, they began to leave, but the shooting occurred during their departure.
During a previous bail hearing, a judge ordered Monahan back into police custody, considering his confrontational and impulsive nature. Prosecutors argued for Monahan’s detainment without bail, highlighting his behavior and potential danger. Monahan’s attorney, Kurt Mausert, contended that his client, a long-time local resident with no prior arrests or convictions in New York, should have been granted pretrial release.
Mausert disputed the sheriff’s account of the events and claimed that multiple vehicles were aggressively entering Monahan’s driveway at high speeds.
The victim’s father, Andy Gillis, has called for justice, describing his daughter as an intelligent, kind, and loving young woman who aspired to become a marine biologist or veterinarian. Following Monahan’s bail hearing in April, Gillis expressed his strong desire for him to face the consequences, stating, “For this man to sit on his porch and fire at a car with no threat is just… (it) angers me so badly, and I just hope to God that he dies in jail. Kaylin deserves justice.”
Monahan is scheduled to appear in court again on July 28, with his trial expected to commence in September.
