Kaylin Gillis’ parents left ‘devastated’ over daughter’s upstate NY shooting death

The “devastated” and “heartbroken” parents of 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis posted touching tributes to their daughter, who was shot and killed when the car she was in drove up the wrong driveway in upstate New York on Saturday night.

Angelique and Andrew Gillis remembered their daughter in separate Facebook posts Tuesday as a “beautiful soul” who had “so much to live for and so many dreams” before she was fatally shot by a homeowner in Washington County.

The young woman was with three friends when they mistakenly drove up the wrong driveway and were shot at as they tried to leave, authorities said.

The homeowner, Kevin Monahan, 65, was charged with second-degree murder.

“I’m lost. I’m heartbroken,” Angelique Gillis wrote. “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.”

Those dreams included becoming either a veterinarian or marine biologist after she graduated from Schuylerville Central School in 2021, according to her obituary.

She loved being around animals, especially goats, and dolphins.

Her obituary also called her the glue of her family and said she “lit up any room she was in.”

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“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,” Andrew Gillis posted on Facebook.

“She was just beginning to find her way in the world with kindness, humor, and love. Kaylin was a talented artist, an honor 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 Kaylin’s positivity, optimism, and joy as we learn to live with her loss.”

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He added he was grateful for the support he and his family have received that “will carry us through this difficult journey.”

The shocking shooting happened around 10 p.m. Saturday in the town of Hebron while Gillis and her pals were searching for a friend’s home in the rural area filled with dirt roads.

After Gillis was hit with one of the two shots allegedly fired by Monahan, the driver of the car quickly fled from the home, Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy said during a Monday press conference.

The group of friends connected with 911 after driving miles from the home into a neighboring town in an area with poor cellphone reception.

Gillis was pronounced dead after first responders were unable to save her.

Murphy said the group of friends posed no threat to Monahan and didn’t even exit the car when they inadvertently pulled into his driveway.

The suspect’s lawyer, Kurt Mauser, claimed to CNN Tuesday that his client didn’t even know the bullets he fired had struck anyone.

Mauser also told CNN he had been told by Monahan there were multiple vehicles that pulled into his driveway, including a motorcycle, and that they were “revving engines [and] coming up the driveway at a high rate of speed.”

He argued that this “created an atmosphere and a fear that there was menace going on” for Monahan.

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Neighbors told The Post that Monahan was known for having a short fuse and hated people driving up to his property by accident.

Gillis’ life will be remembered Friday when a celebration of life and a community gathering will take place.

Along with her two grieving parents, Gillis leaves behind two sisters, her longtime boyfriend, three grandparents, and many other relatives.