Northeast
New York man receives 25 years to life for killing woman who turned into wrong driveway
- Kevin Monahan, 66, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for fatally shooting 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis in upstate New York.
- Monahan was convicted of second-degree murder for shooting Gillis in the neck after her group mistakenly entered his driveway while looking for a party.
- He received additional years for tampering with the murder weapon and was criticized by the judge for his lack of remorse.
A man who fatally shot a 20-year-old woman after the SUV she was riding in mistakenly drove into his rural driveway in upstate New York was sentenced Friday to 25 years to life in prison.
Kevin Monahan, 66, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death last April of Kaylin Gillis. She was riding in a caravan of two cars and a motorcycle that was trying to leave after pulling into Monahan’s long, winding driveway while looking for a party at another person’s house in the town of Hebron.
“I think it’s important for people to know that it’s not OK to shoot people and have them killed for turning down your driveway,” Judge Adam Michelini said. Apart from the wider deterrent effect, Michelini said it’s important that Monahan remain behind bars rather than be free to harm more people.
KAYLIN GILLIS DRIVEWAY SHOOTING DEATH: FATHER SAYS HE HOPES SUSPECT ‘DIES IN JAIL’
The judge added up to 4 more years for tampering with the murder weapon, and scolded Monahan for showing no remorse.
Kevin Monahan, left, listens to opening statements in his murder trial on Jan. 11, 2024, at the Washington County Courthouse in Fort Edward, N.Y. Monahan, who fatally shot a 20-year-old woman after the SUV she was riding in mistakenly drove into his rural driveway in upstate New York, was sentenced on Friday to 25 years to life in prison. (Will Waldron/The Albany Times Union via AP, Pool, File)
“You murdered Kaylin Gillis. You shot at a car full of people and you didn’t care what would happen and you repeatedly lied about it. You deserve to spend the maximum time in prison allowable under the law,” the judge said.
Prosecutors had asked for the maximum. The defense asked for leniency. Monahan declined an opportunity to speak. And then he was led away, to applause and a shout of “coward” from the gallery.
BOYFRIEND OF WOMAN KILLED AFTER TURNING INTO WRONG DRIVEWAY DESCRIBES ‘FRANTIC’ MOMENT HOMEOWNER SHOT HER
Gillis’ death drew attention far beyond upstate New York. It came days after the shooting of 16-year-old Ralph Yarl in Kansas City. Yarl, who is Black, was wounded by an 84-year-old white man after he went to the wrong door while trying to pick up his younger brothers.
On the night of Gillis’ death, the group of friends had realized their error and had turned around when Monahan fired a second shot, striking Gillis in the neck as she sat in the front passenger seat of an SUV driven by her boyfriend.
Monahan maintained the fatal shot was an accident and that the shotgun was defective. He also said he believed the house about 40 miles north of Albany was “under siege” by intruders, and said he came out to fire a warning shot to try to scare the group away while his wife hid inside.
Prosecutors argued that Monahan was motivated by an irrational rage toward trespassers.
KAYLIN GILLIS DRIVEWAY SHOOTING DEATH: BOYFRIEND DETAILS WRONG TURN IN NEW YORK WOODS, IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH
A jury deliberated for less then two hours before returning guilty verdicts in January against Monahan for murder, reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence.
Gillis’ boyfriend, Blake Walsh, was behind the wheel of the SUV that night. “I will never be able to forgive you,” he told Monahan, who looked on with a stony face before his sentence was announced.
Gillis’ father, Andrew Gillis, who has described his daughter as someone who loved animals and had dreams of becoming a marine biologist or a veterinarian, told the court that losing her has left “an indescribable void in our life.”
“Every day we wake up to the harsh reality that that she’s no longer here,” he said. “We will never see her beautiful face, hear her laughter or simply be able to hug her.”
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Boston, MA
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Pittsburg, PA
Four people taken into custody and charged following drug bust in Pittsburgh suburb
The Allegheny County Police Department announced charges against four people after a drug bust earlier this week in Braddock.
On Thursday, the county police’s violent crime and firearms unit, along with the SWAT team, served a search warrant at a home on Corey Avenue.
When they entered, they found two adult men, an adult woman, and one boy inside. They were all taken into custody.
Following a search of the home, detectives found a loaded handgun, five bricks of suspected fentanyl, multiple handgun magazines, and firearm accessories.
All four of the people in the home are now facing charges in connection with the investigation.
Among them is 24-year-old Jawan Coachman, who is being charged with carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and tampering with evidence. Both 18-year-old Nathaniel Scott and 19-year-old Nakhiya Enoch are facing multiple drug charges and an additional charge related to firearms violations.
Meanwhile, the juvenile had charges filed in juvenile court, and his identity has not been released.
Connecticut
One person dead after a two-car crash in Lisbon early Saturday morning
State Police are investigating a two-car accident that occurred on Interstate 395 in Lisbon that shut down both sides of the highway early Saturday morning.
One of the drivers, Keith Mutch, was pronounced dead on scene and the driver of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital for minor injuries.
Officials say Mutch was separated from his vehicle due to the collision and was found on the ground in the center median.
The scene is still being investigated by the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad.
Police ask that anyone with information contact Troop E in Montville.
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