NEW YORK CITY, NY – A devastating act of violence shook the Upper East Side on Friday morning when a terminally ill woman fatally shot her former daughter-in-law before turning the gun on herself.
The incident, linked to a bitter custody battle, occurred in broad daylight, shocking the local community.
The victim, identified as 45-year-old Marisa Galloway, was reportedly putting her 1-year-old daughter into a car on East 88th Street, just steps from Gracie Mansion, when she was approached and shot by 65-year-old Kathleen Leigh. Leigh, a retired probation officer who had been residing with family while battling terminal cancer, then fatally shot herself.
Galloway, a special education teacher and a coach at Fordham University, was involved in a custody dispute over a 4-year-old child she shared with Leigh’s son. Surveillance footage captured the tragic moment Leigh shot Galloway in the head and back as she was loading a stroller into her car.
The 1-year-old child present during the incident was found unharmed. Authorities found a note labeled “For Police” on Leigh, the contents of which have not been disclosed.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny noted in a press conference that there had been previous domestic incidents reported involving Galloway, though none had led to arrests, and two complaints were deemed unfounded.
This tragedy highlights the complexities and emotional strain of custody disputes, leaving a community in mourning and raising questions about the intersection of personal crises and public safety.
