PAINESVILLE, Ohio — The maximum sentence of six years behind bars was handed down against former Cleveland Firefighter Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday morning in Lake County in connection with a 2022 incident that claimed the life of his roommate, Christian Kilburg.
The punishment was given one month after McCarthy pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless homicide with a firearm specification.
McCarthy, who appeared in court with ashes across his forehead to mark Ash Wednesday, rose to his feet and gave a tearful apology prior to sentencing.
“With every beat of my heart, it is a beat of sorrow and remorse," he said. "I simply cannot explain the angst that is now ingrained in my DNA."
We streamed Wednesday's full sentencing hearing, which you can watch in the video below:
McCarthy added that he would not intentionally hurt Kilburg or anybody in his family.
"I am so sorry," he continued. "To each one of our and his friends, I’m sorry. To my family, I’m sorry. I would trade places with him in a minute, but I would not wish this absolute mental hell that I have to live with forever upon anyone. I am not asking for forgiveness, I just need you all to know myself and the entire McCarthy family will be praying for his soul and for your family for eternity.”
Kilburg's mother also made a statement directed at McCarthy before the judge announced his decision on sentencing.
“The courtroom looks a whole lot different than a church, doesn’t it Kevin?" she said. "One here is to condemn, and the other is to save. It’s Ash Wednesday today. What you did was the gravest sin of all. You killed my son."
You can watch her full statement to the court in the video below:
She continued by asking McCarthy what was going on in their apartment.
"When I heard that you were pulling guns on each other, I was in utter disbelief. I never saw that behavior from Christian. What was going on in your apartment? To say that you were his best friend? You were his best friend in disguise because a friend doesn’t smash somebody’s eye with his guitar and scratch his neck with your fingers or punch each other in the shoulder – especially when Christian had a plate in his shoulder. I highly doubt that he would’ve thought that was amusing. What was going on in that apartment? I hear that this was an accident. Kevin, it’s no accident. You never point a gun at anybody. You never point a gun at somebody’s head or anybody that you don’t intend to destroy. You and God know what happened. God knows what happened. Nobody here really knows what happened. I pray for Christian’s soul, too. After I found out about it, I was terrified. Absolutely terrified. It was Holy Thursday. I talked to Christian and I talked to you on that Tuesday and I said, ‘St. Rita’s is having a communal confession. Why don’t you guys stop up here?’ What did you guys do? You laughed at me. That was the Tuesday before you shot him. I was trying to lead him to Christ, and you laughed at us."
She then said she is praying for both her son and McCarthy.
"We’re all going to be extinguished from this world," she continued. "Every single one of us. I live with the torment every single day. It just runs through my head all the time, and I don’t sleep. There is nobody, there is no human, that can ease my pain. God is merciful, and I believe in the mercy of our Lord. I don’t know where Christian is. I ask myself that all the time. I hope and I pray that he’s with Jesus, but there is a Hell, too, Kevin. I don’t know if he’s suffering. And I pray because that’s the only consolation I have. I pray for you, too, Kevin. I pray for you, too. That’s all I have to say."
Prior to finalizing his guilty plea on Jan. 18, the judge told McCarthy that a maximum six-year prison sentence could be imposed -- three years for the reckless homicide charge and three years for the firearm specification.
You can watch McCarthy's full change-of-plea hearing in the video below:
The case dates back to April 14, 2022, when police say they received a call from McCarthy about the shooting at the Willogrove Apartments in the 37300 block of Grove Avenue.
The 911 call, which was obtained by 3News, included the following conversation:
McCarthy: “I accidentally discharged a firearm and I accidentally shot my roommate.”
Dispatcher: “Does he need an ambulance?”
McCarthy: “No, he’s dead.”
When authorities arrived at the scene, police say McCarthy was found outside of the building and detained while additional officers responded to the apartment. That’s where police say Kilburg, 25, was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound.
3News previously reported that McCarthy was hired by the Cleveland Fire Department back in 2021.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE IN THE CASE: