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.
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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.