A New York man has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the the shooting death of a woman who was a passenger in car turning around in his driveway last year.
A jury took less than two hours to return the guilty verdict against 66-year-old Kevin Monahan, according to the Albany Times-Union. The jurors also convicted Monahan of reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence.
Monahan was accused of killing Kaylin Gillis, 20, on April 15, 2023, when she and her boyfriend pulled into Monahan’s driveway and quickly realized it was the wrong house, as CrimeOnline previously reported. But before Blake Walsh could turn around and leave, Monahan fired a 20-gauge shotgun twice into the vehicle.
Gillis was hit in the neck and died before they could reach help.
Initially, Monahan claimed that several drivers were revving their engines and speeding up his driveway, but during the trial, his attorneys claimed he tripped over nails and fell, banging the gun against his porch railing and causing it to accidentally fire. He also claimed that his fingers were impaired and he was incapable of pulling the trigger easily, but his wife’s testimony about his hunting prowess countered those claims.
He also claimed that he told his wife to hide in a closet because of the “intruders,” but she testified that he didn’t ask her to do that.
The jury didn’t buy it, and they also didn’t go for a manslaughter charge, which Judge Adama Michelini allowed them to consider. He rejected a defense motion for the jury to consider criminally negligent homicide.
Gillis’s family released a statement after the verdict saying they “do feel justice has prevailed,” WNYT reported.
“Thank you to the DA’s office, Christian Morris, Tony Jordan and staff, Judge Michelini and NYS Court Officers, Washington County Courts, my brothers and sisters at the Washington County Sheriffs office, Cambridge/Greenwich PD, Granville PD, New York State Police, Salem EMS, Salem Fire, and all mutual aid, and media personnel for remaining respectful of our friends and family. Thank you to everyone who showed love and support!
“While we would trade anything to bring Kaylin back, this was the best possible outcome short of her still being here with us. KAYLIN GOT HER JUSTICE. Much love to all! 🙏❤️🥰”
Monahan now faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced on March 1.
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[Featured image: Kaylin Gillis/GoFundMe]
