The New York state man accused of murdering a 20-year-old woman who was a passenger in the car that accidentally pulled into his driveway has been described by a neighbor as a “narcissist with a short fuse,” who is often was ‘furious’. about intruders.’
Adam Matthews told The New York Post that he was not surprised to learn that his neighbor Kevin Monahan, 65, the construction boss, was accused of shooting Kaylin Gillis dead at his remote estate in the city of Hebron.
Gilles was was traveling with three friends about 10pm Saturday night looking for a friend’s address when the driver of the vehicle accidentally pulled into Monahan’s driveway.
Monahan reportedly stepped onto his porch and reportedly fired two shots, one of which hit Gillis, who was a passenger in the vehicle, according to Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy.
Matthews said one of Monahan’s biggest pet peeves was people trespassing on his property.
Kevin Monahan, 65, was reportedly charged with second-degree murder and remains in custody at the Warren County Jail, officials said
Kaylin Gillis, 20, was enjoying a night out with friends before she was shot dead in the senseless murder on Sunday night. She was remembered by distraught family and friends as a gentle soul who loved animals
The rural farming area near the Adirondack Mountains has a population of 1,786 according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau and consists of dirt roads with minimal cell and internet service.
The neighbor said when he first heard the news his “convulsive reaction” was that “someone probably pulled into Kevin’s driveway to arrange a beef.”
“If someone said something was going to happen all this way, who would be the first person that came to mind? Kevin,” he claimed.
Matthews said it was “shocking” and felt sorry for the young victim.
There was never any doubt that he had a short fuse. I think he was a bit of a narcissist,” Matthews claimed. “He couldn’t do anything wrong, but the rest knew nothing.”
Sheriff Jeffrey J. Murphy told NPR it’s not uncommon for drivers to hit the wrong lodging due to the remote location with spotless cell service.
“It’s a very rural area. There are dirt roads,” Murphy said. “There’s not much cell service or any form of internet.”
After the shooting, the victim’s frantic friends had to drive to the neighboring town of Salem to call for help.
Monahan’s property is located on Patterson Hill Road in the city of Hebron near the Adirondack Mountains
Gillis, that of Schuylerville, New York was about 18 miles from home when the tragedy happened.
Matthews said Monahan would always complain about people pulling into his driveway thinking it was a road.
“He was very adamant about people not coming up, and for a long time he kept the bottom of his driveway closed off because so many people mistook it for a roadway because it’s so wide at the bottom,” he said.
The property line surprised even police when they first responded to the shooting, he said.
Monahan was charged with second-degree murder and remains in custody at the Warren County Jail, officials said.
After the shooting, Monahan failed to cooperate with authorities and the New York State Police Special Operations Response Team was called in to help, before being taken into custody, a sheriff’s department said press release.
The sheriff described the tragic murder as “very sad.”
“There was clearly no threat from anyone in the vehicle,” he said. “There was no reason for Monahan to feel threatened.”