July 26, 2024 MANHATTAN, New York – Two women were shot and killed in an apparent murder-suicide on the Upper East Side of Manhattan Friday morning, over an ongoing custody battle, police said.
According to police officials, Kathleen Leigh, 65, approached her former daughter in-law identified as Marisa Galloway, 45, and shot her multiple times including the head and lower back.
Police say Leigh, a retired probation officer out of Chicago then shot herself in the head in broad daylight on an Upper East Side street.
Marisa Galloway was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she subsequently died, cops said.
Ms. Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders as a 1-year-old baby was sitting in the backseat of a nearby car, police said.
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We spoke with Michael Donavon, eyewitness to the fatal incident who says that initial police response came from Gracie Mansion before any other precinct due to its proximity to the shooting.
“I heard yelling, then I heard shots. I ducked into my doorway for cover and then I saw the lady with the white hair fall onto the sidewalk. I thought something might of happened down by Gracie Mansion and that she was hit by a stray bullet but then when I went closer, I saw there was another woman lying behind the car who was also shot.” Mr. Donavan said.
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According to police officials, a custody dispute has been ongoing between Galloway and Leigh’s son with multiple reports of domestic dispute incidents involving the family.
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The shooting happened just before 9 a.m., on East 88th Street between York and East End Avenue, less than half a block from Gracie Mansion.