In a New York courtroom on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, Kevin Monahan, aged 66, was convicted on charges of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment, and evidence tampering.
This verdict is linked to an event that occurred on April 15, 2023, in Hebron, New York, where Kaylin Gillis, 20, was fatally shot.
The incident occurred when Gillis and friends inadvertently entered Monahan’s long, dark driveway while searching for a different location.
Upon realizing their mistake, the group, which included two cars and a motorcycle, attempted to leave. Monahan, positioned on his deck, fired two shots, one of which fatally wounded Gillis in the neck.
Monahan’s defense, spearheaded by attorney Kurt Mausert, argued that the shooting was a consequence of his feeling threatened by the unexpected arrival of the group.
Monahan claimed his first shot was intended as a warning. He further testified that the second fatal shot occurred accidentally when he tripped over protruding nails on his deck, leading to an unintentional discharge of his firearm.
This claim was contested during the trial by New York State Police forensic investigator Victoria O’Connor, who challenged the assertion of a defective firearm.
In contrast, the prosecution depicted Monahan’s actions as demonstrating a depraved indifference to human life. They underscored the hastiness of his response, firing at the vehicle within a mere 90 seconds of its arrival, as indicative of a reckless and perilous reaction to a situation that posed no apparent threat.
The jury deliberated for less than three hours and reached a unanimous guilty verdict. Monahan now faces a sentence ranging from 25 years to life imprisonment, set for determination on March 1.
Gillis, remembered by her family as a vibrant young woman with a passion for marine biology, epitomizes a promising life tragically cut short. Her father, Andrew Gillis, has voiced sorrow and frustration over the circumstances of her death.