In a tragic turn of events on Friday morning, a mother and her grandmother have died following a violent confrontation related to a child custody dispute on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. The incident occurred just before 9 a.m. and left the local community in shock.
Marissa Galloway, 45, was at the center of the confrontation. As she was putting a stroller into the trunk of her car after placing her child inside, Kathleen Leigh, 65, approached her. Leigh, a retired Cook County probation officer from Chicago, pulled out a 9mm Glock and shot Galloway in the head. According to the NYPD, Leigh then fired another shot at Galloway as she lay on the ground.
Leigh subsequently turned the gun on herself, taking her own life on the sidewalk. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Galloway, despite being rushed to the hospital, later succumbed to her injuries.
The NYPD’s Chief of Detectives, Joseph Kenny, confirmed that the shooting stemmed from an ongoing custody dispute involving Galloway and the child’s father, who was not harmed in the incident. Records show there were at least five previous reports of domestic disputes within the family, as well as two additional complaints.
The tragic event unfolded in a public space filled with families and strollers, causing immediate panic among witnesses as the shots were fired. The NYPD found the 9mm gun on the sidewalk next to Leigh and discovered another gun in her tote bag.
Galloway was known for her active role in the community. She was a seasoned runner and a respected track coach at Fordham University. The university expressed its deep sorrow over her death, noting, “We keep Marissa and her loved ones in our thoughts and prayers.”
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In addition to her coaching career, Galloway was also a teacher, highlighting her dedication to both education and athletics.
