Early Friday morning, July 26, 2024, a quiet Upper East Side New York City street witnessed a fatal confrontation between two women over a custody dispute. Kathleen Leigh, 65, a retired Chicago, Illinois, probation officer, shot her former daughter-in-law, Marisa Galloway, 45, before turning the gun on herself, police reported.
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on East 88th Street in New York, just a block from Gracie Mansion, the residence of NYC Mayor Eric Adams. Galloway, a special education teacher and dedicated mother of two, was placing her one-year-old daughter into a parked white Honda Civic when Leigh approached and shot her twice — once in the head and once in the back. Leigh then shot herself in the head, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny.
Galloway was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene.
Galloway’s one-year-old daughter, who was in the backseat of the car at the time of the shooting, was physically unharmed. The child, who was not biologically related to Leigh, was taken into the care of authorities following the incident.
Surveillance footage captured the entire sequence of events, showing Leigh approaching Galloway as she secured her child in the car seat and then walked to the vehicle’s rear to load a stroller. Leigh then fired the fatal shots before taking her own life.
The tragic event stems from a bitter custody battle between Galloway and Leigh’s son over their four-year-old daughter. The dispute had previously resulted in multiple domestic incident reports filed with the NYPD, but no arrests were made. Leigh had been living with her son on East 79th Street while undergoing treatment for terminal cancer, sources said.
In a seven-page suicide note found at the scene, Leigh detailed her suffering from cancer and her accusations against Galloway of trying to alienate Leigh’s granddaughter from her father. Leigh had frequently complained to neighbors about these accusations, though they were deemed to be unfounded by child services investigators.
“She took away the child’s mother to make her son happy … it’s shocking,” said a law-enforcement source. “I’ve seen a lot of (expletive), but this is biblical (expletive).”
Galloway was well-regarded in her community, known for her dedication to her children and her passion for running. A former volunteer coach at Fordham University and a Central Park Track Club board member, she was often seen jogging with her daughters in a stroller. Galloway graduated from Fordham University in 2001 and earned her master’s in education in 2005.
Fordham University expressed that the loss is deeply felt by the community. Galloway was known as a great friend, a devoted mother, a passionate runner, and a cherished coach. Her kindness and warmth impacted everyone she encountered.
The NYPD’s investigation is ongoing. They recovered a loaded 9 mm gun on the sidewalk near the car and a second firearm in Leigh’s tote bag.
The custody battle, which had been escalating over the years, was marked by numerous conflicts and allegations, including an incident where Galloway’s former partner claimed their daughter had come home with bruises, though investigations found the accusations not credible. The feud reportedly intensified after Leigh’s cancer diagnosis, with neighbors noting the increased tension between the families.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Galloway’s surviving children, raising over $92,000. The page described Galloway as a woman of unparalleled kindness, generosity, and love who devoted her life to her daughters, Lili and Mariel.