The father of a 20-year-old woman who was fatally shot after turning into the wrong driveway spoke to the press on Wednesday, claiming that he hopes the lead suspect “dies in jail.”
The unfortunate woman, Kaylin Gillis, was slain last Saturday. Kaylin had been a passenger in a car belonging to her boyfriend, Blake Walsh, along with several other friends, going to a party in upstate New York’s scenic Washington County.
However, their plans were cut short when the group allegedly turned into the wrong driveway after having lost cellular reception. The group claims that a man opened fire on their vehicle from his porch, resulting in Kaylin’s death from a fatal gunshot wound.
That girl’s father, Andrew Gillis, gave his blistering remarks at a press conference convened after his daughter’s purported killer, Kevin Monahan, was denied bail in court.
“I’m thankful for Washington County Court for him [Monahan] being remanded. Our family is going through an awful, awful time at the moment,” Andrew Gillis told the press.
“For this man to sit on his porch and fire at a car with no threat is just … it angers me so badly,” Gillis continued. “And I just hope to God that he dies in jail.”
The suspect, Kevin Monahan, had reportedly become bitter and hostile towards trespassers on his property, according to neighbors who knew him. Monahan had a history of legal troubles suggesting an aggressive temper, including a misdemeanor charge from 1980 and an aggravated assault charge from 2001.
However, Monahan’s lawyer, Kurt Maussert, has contested the version of events provided by Gillis’ friends and by local law enforcement, who have described Monahan as “hot-tempered” and “confrontational.”
“I believe we have series of mistakes that led to a tragedy,” Maussert told The Associated Press. “But I don’t believe my client is a villain. But not every case with a tragedy has a villain, and I think this is one of them.”
“Kaylin was a kind, beautiful soul and a ray of light to anyone who was lucky enough to know her,” Andrew said in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “She was a big sister, much loved daughter, devoted friend, and partner to her loving boyfriend. She was just beginning to find her way in the world with kindness, humor, and love.”
Kaylin Gillis is survived by two sisters, who are in the seventh and ninth grades at Schuylerville High School where Kaylin graduated two years ago.
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