Boyfriend of Kaylin Gillis: ‘My world was taken from me’

The boyfriend of Kaylin Gillis, the 20-year-old Schuylerville woman killed after pulling into the wrong driveway in Washington County, says his life is shattered.

Blake Walsh, 19, of Cambridge spoke by phone to NBC News. He said he, Kaylin and two friends were looking for another house when shots were fired in their direction.

Walsh, who was driving a Ford Explorer, said Gillis was shot as they were leaving the driveway in Hebron.

The group of friends was travelling with friends in another vehicle when they all pulled into the wrong driveway. Walsh said they realized they were in the wrong place and turned around.

“We thought we were at the right address,” Walsh said. “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.”

What happened next, Walsh said, was a blur.

“My friend said, ‘They’re shooting — go!’ I tried to step on the gas as fast as I could, and that’s when the fatal shot came through.”

Blake Walsh

“My friend said, ‘They’re shooting — go!’ I tried to step on the gas as fast as I could, and that’s when the fatal shot came through,” Walsh said.

“I want to believe it was instant. I’m hoping it was. I’m praying it was,” he said through tears.

Kevin Monahan, 65, fired two rounds, investigators said. A source told NewsChannel 13 he used a 20-gauge shotgun.

Gillis was shot. She was pronounced dead several miles away from Monahan’s house. The group had to drive five miles to get to an area with cell service so they could call 911.

“It did not feel like that,” Walsh said. “It felt like 30 seconds. The adrenaline was rushing so bad.”

Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan says there was no provocation for the shooting.

Monahan is charged with second-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Sunday.

“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.”

Blake Walsh

Gillis graduated from Schuylerville High School in 2021. Walsh said he met her when he was a sophomore in high school. She was an animal lover and aspiring marine biologist, he said.

The couple had been dating for more than four years. Walsh said they often spoke about being the “2%,”  citing an apparent statistic that indicated only 2% of high school sweethearts get married.

“I had high hopes, and I had plans,” Walsh said. “I didn’t want to be with anybody else, and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.”

He said of Gillis: “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.”

Walsh said he’ll miss “her smile,” “her eyes” and “how happy she was able to make me.”

He added, “My world was taken from me Saturday.”

Walsh also said he plans to attend Monahan’s bond hearing and hopes he’s punished to the full extent of the law.

“I need to see who took my girlfriend away from me. I need to look at him,” Walsh said.