19 April 2023 , 21:01
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The boyfriend of a woman shot dead after the car she was in drove up the wrong driveway in upstate New York has recalled her final moments.
19-year-old Blake Walsh, of Cambridge, New York, explained that he and three passengers had been looking for a party when two rounds were fired in their direction.
One of the passengers was his girlfriend, Kaylin Gillis, 20, who was shot and killed in the incident.
Her parents, Angelique and Andrew Gillis, have shared a touching tribute to their daughter on Facebook, calling her a "beautiful soul" who had "so much to live for and so many dreams".
Kaylin's boyfriend says she was shot in the neck (Facebook)Walsh was driving a Ford Explorer when they turned down the driveway in Hebron, around 50 miles north of Albany.
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He explained the four friends were travelling with a group in another vehicle which also pulled into the wrong driveway. When they realised they were at the wrong home they turned around and were leaving.
"We thought we were at the right address," Walsh explained.
"We didn't have any cell service to figure it out. As soon as we figured it out that we were at the wrong location, we started to leave, and that's when everything happened."
He said what happened next was a blur. "My friend said, 'theyre shooting - go!'" he said.
Kaylin had dreams of becoming a vet or marine biologist (Facebook)"I tried to step on the gas as fast as I could, and that's when the fatal shot came through. I want to believe it was instant. I'm hoping it was. I'm praying it was," he said in tears.
Suspect Kevin Monahan, 65, fired twice after the group turned into his driveway, according to authorities.
Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy said on Monday, April 17, Monahan is alleged to have fired as the group was leaving. He said the group "clearly" posed no threat.
One of the shots hit Gillis, with Walsh saying she was struck in the neck. She was pronounced dead several miles away after the group called 911, having had to drive five miles due to the lack of cell service.
"It did not feel like that", Walsh explained. "It felt like 30 seconds. The adrenaline was rushing so bad."
'Narcissist' with a 'short fuse'
Monahan has been described by a neighbour as a "narcissist" with a "short fuse" who would reportedly rage about people mistaking his driveway for a road.
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He was charged with second-degree murder following the shooting. Next-door neighbour Adam Matthews told the New York Post: "Its shocking, but I'm not surprised."
"He had a short fuse," he said. "There was never any doubt he had a short fuse. I think he was a bit of a narcissist. He could do no wrong, but everybody else didn't know jack s**t."
Monahan was described by neighbours has having a 'short fuse' (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Another neighbour, who didn't want to be named, described Monahan as an "irritable character".
"From what he told me, it seemed he presumed the worst in people," the neighbour said.
"He was more cynical, just an irritable personality, someone who was easy to get into an argument with."
The house with the party the group had been looking for was just half a mile further up the road from the driveway.
The homeowner, who didn't want to be identified, said his son had been having a small gathering the night of the shooting, and Gillis had been invited through a mutual friend.
He said: "This is unbelievable. And to have a f***ing scumbag that lives down the road. Something like this never should have happened. This is absolutely ridiculous."
'Our family will never be the same'
Her parents posted separate Facebook posts in tribute to their daughter, who they descibed as a "beautiful soul" who had "so much to live for any so many dreams".
"I'm lost," wrote Angelique Gillis.
"I'm heartbroken. I can't put into words how to even express how thankful for everyone's love and support. My beautiful baby didn't deserve this.
"She had so much to live for and so many dreams. She was the light of our lives."
Kaylin was described in her obituary as the glue of her family, saying she "lit up any room she was in".
The young woman dreamed of becoming a vet or marine biologist after graduating from Schuylerville Central School in 2021
Her obituary described how she "loved interacting with animals, goats and dolphins being her favourite".
Kaylin met boyfriend Blake when he was a sophmore in high school (Facebook)
Kaylin was described as a 'ray of light' (Facebook)Andrew Gillis said in a post: "Kaylin was a kind, beautiful soul and a ray of light to anyone who was lucky enough to know her. She was a big sister, much-loved daughter, devoted friend, and partner to her loving boyfriend."
Walsh said he met Kaylin when he was a sophomore in high school, and the pair had been together for more than four years.
"I had high hopes, and I had plans," said Walsh. "I didn't want to be with anybody else, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her."
Talking about his girlfriend, he said: "I want the world to know how good of a person she really was and how much she impacted everybody who had the fortunate opportunity to be in her life."
Andrew's post continued: "She was just beginning to find her way in the world with kindness, humour and love. Kaylin was a talented artists, an honour student, a Disney fanatic, and loved animals. She was looking forward to starting college in Florida to pursue her dream of becoming a marine biologist.
"She was taken from us far too soon, and we are devastated. Our family will never be the same but we will be guided by Kayline's positivity, optimism, and joy as we learn to live with her loss."