On Friday morning, the Upper East Side of Manhattan was the scene of a tragic murder-suicide that left two women dead and a community in shock. Kathleen Leigh, a 65-year-old retired Cook County probation officer, shot and killed her former daughter-in-law, 45-year-old Marissa Galloway, before turning the gun on herself.

What Happened To Marissa Galloway?
The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on East 88th Street, just half a block away from Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence. According to witnesses and police reports, Galloway was placing her 1-year-old child in the car and loading a stroller into the trunk when Leigh approached her. Leigh drew a 9mm Glock and shot Galloway in the head, then fired again as Galloway lay on the ground. Leigh then turned the gun on herself, ending her life on the sidewalk.

Galloway was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to her injuries. Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene. The child, fortunately, was unharmed.

The New York Police Department has indicated that the motive behind this horrific act was an ongoing custody dispute between Galloway and her ex-husband, Leigh’s son. Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny stated, “The preliminary motive for this incident is going to be an ongoing domestic dispute.”

Authorities found two firearms at the scene: one next to Leigh’s body and another in her tote bag. “Those firearms have no significant history here in New York City,” Kenny added. “They were not reported as stolen. That will be part of our investigation — to see if those weapons were hers while she was a probation officer.”

This tragic event follows multiple domestic incident reports and complaints filed by Galloway against her ex-husband, indicating a history of harassment. Neighbor Meryl Fiedelman shared that Galloway had often expressed concerns about her ex-husband’s behavior, recounting an incident where Child Services had visited her to inquire about any issues next door.

Marissa Galloway was a graduate of Fordham University, where she earned both her bachelor’s degree in 2001 and her master’s in education in 2005. For the past 17 years, she had been a dedicated volunteer assistant track and field coach at her alma mater. Fordham University released a statement expressing their deep sadness over Galloway’s death, saying, “We keep Marissa and her loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”

This devastating incident has left a community mourning the loss of two lives and has highlighted the severe consequences that can arise from domestic disputes.