Retired Chicago Woman Fatally Shoots Grandson’s Mother in NYC Custody Dispute
In a shocking turn of events, a retired Chicago woman gunned down her grandson’s mother in an upscale New York City neighborhood just steps from the mayor’s home as part of a deadly custody dispute over a 4-year-old boy. The tragic incident ended with the grandmother taking her own life as a 1-year-old sat in a car seat just steps away.
The victim, Marisa Galloway, 46, was shot in the head and back on a Manhattan street by Kathleen Leigh, the 66-year-old grandmother of Galloway’s 4-year-old child, according to the NYPD. The chilling act was captured on surveillance video, showing Leigh approaching Galloway as she was putting the child in the car seat and then opening fire.
The NYPD Chief Joseph Kenny described the sequence of events, stating that Galloway was shot in the head first and then in the back as she lay on the ground. The tragic incident unfolded less than a block from Gracie Mansion, where Mayor Eric Adams resides.
Galloway, a schoolteacher and former track and field coach at Fordham University, had a history of domestic disputes with Leigh, believed to have stemmed from custody arrangements regarding the 4-year-old. Despite filing multiple reports and complaints with the NYPD, no arrests were made in connection with the disputes.
The Fordham University community mourned the loss of Galloway, who had served as a volunteer assistant track and field coach at the university for 17 years. She was described as a dedicated alumna who excelled in athletics during her time at the university.
The tragic murder-suicide has left the community in shock and mourning the loss of a beloved member. The NYPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly incident as the families involved grapple with the devastating aftermath.
