Kevin D. Monahan shot and killed “innocent young girl” Kaylin A. Gillis, deputies said. (Mug shot of Monahan: Washington County Sheriff’s Office; image of Gillis: courtesy of GoFundMe campaign)
The homeowner who fatally shot a young woman riding in a departing car was convicted Tuesday of criminal responsibility in the incident.
Jurors in Washington County, New York, found Kevin D. Monahan, 66, guilty of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and tampering with evidence, according to multiple reports.
The victim, Kaylin A. Gillis, 20, was in the passenger seat out riding with friends on the night of April 15, 2023. They were looking for a friend’s home for a party, mistakenly making their way to the defendant’s half-mile driveway in the upstate town of Hebron.
Realizing the error, they returned around to leave, but Monahan opened fire on them from his porch.
At trial, his defense reportedly maintained that he was afraid. The group’s arrival woke him up from his sleep and he feared that “a group of marauders” had arrived to attack him and his wife.
Monahan reportedly testified that he fired a warning shot and then accidentally opened fire after tripping on his porch.
Prosecutors, however, presented body camera footage and 911 calls to argue that Monahan and his wife lied to investigators at first. For example, Monahan reportedly acted like he did not know why neighbors heard gunshots, and that he suggested that hunters were nearby.
The tampering with evidence charge stems from him cleaning the gun after the shooting.
BREAKING – Prosecutor Chris Morris delivers 2 hr closing argument, telling the jury:The question isn’t whether Kevin Monahan knew he killed Kaylin but rather if he cared. And he didn’t. His actions reflect depravity defined by having a wicked or evil state of mind.@WNYT pic.twitter.com/mcg9lQYWUn
— Dan Levy (@dlevywnyt) January 23, 2024
Morris told the jury testimony from neighbors prove Gillis and her friends did what lost people do, turn around and leave in less than a few minutes. Morris also replayed 911 recordings and body cam footage which he says show a “calm” Monahan orchestrating a “charade”. (2/2)
— Spencer Conlin (@SpencerReports) January 23, 2024
Prosecutors reportedly said that the Gillis’ vehicle had turned around at the moment of the shooting.
The state argued that instead of being afraid, Monahan was mad the vehicle did not leave fast enough.
“Kevin Monahan did not act out of fear,” prosecutor Christian P. Morris reportedly said. “He acted out of a baser emotion than that: He acted out of anger.”
Authorities in April 2023 said that Monahan was uncooperative at the time and refused to leave his home to speak with law enforcement. There was no reason for him to feel afraid, Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy in a press conference.
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