A tragic event unfolded on an otherwise quiet street near Gracie Mansion in Upper East Side, Chicago involving a 65-year-old retired probation officer, known as Kathleen Leigh. Reports confirmed that Leigh fatally shot 45-year-old Marisa Galloway, the mother of her grandchild, on E. 88th St. close to York Ave. around 8:50 a.m. Following this shocking act, Leigh decided to end her own life in what police officers are categorizing as a murder-suicide, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
The motivation behind the deadly event seems to stem from an escalating and ongoing disagreement concerning the custody of a 4-year-old child. The mother of the child, Marisa Galloway, also had a 1-year-old daughter, although she was not involved in the dispute. Thankfully, she was found securely strapped into her car seat, unharmed in the back of the Honda where the unfortunate incident took place.
The dreadful occurrence happened only a short distance from Galloway’s residence, shocking the local community. Galloway’s neighbor received the news with deep grief, visibly upset, clutching her head in her hands, huddled against a tree pit guard. Overcome with emotion, she shouted at a nearby building guard, questioning who would now take care of the children.
Fellow residents portrayed Galloway as a committed mother who continually faced problems with her previous partner. One local resident, Meryl Fedelman, shared that Galloway often confided in her about her struggles with her ex-husband. Specifically, she spoke about the consistent harassment she faced from him.
Fedelman also mentioned an unexpected visit she received from the Administration for Children’s Services. They were inquiring about any issues they should know about concerning Galloway. Fedelman confidently assured them that Galloway was a fantastic mother and a lovely person to interact with.
Still, it was reported that police were called to Galloway’s apartment multiple times between the years 2021 and 2022. These visits were in response to heated arguments involving Galloway, her 4-year-old’s father, and Leigh, mainly centered around visitation rights and other custody matters.
The case of custody further complicates as twice in the year 2022, once in April and once in August, bruising was reported on the little girl. Police sources attribute these reports to the child’s father. Despite the allegations, no arrests were made as the claims were deemed unfounded by the Administration for Children’s Services.
Examination of court records illustrates that a custody case was initiated against Galloway by Zachariah Reed in August 2021. The most recent event was a settlement conference held in December 2023. Matthew Ehrlich, Galloway’s representative during these legal proceedings, was deeply affected by her murder.
Ehrlich, speaking about his now deceased client, stated he had worked closely with Galloway for three years. Expressing his shock over the tragic incident, he offered his heartfelt condolences to Galloway’s family and her two young daughters.
According to law enforcement sources, the custody arrangement was such that Galloway’s elder daughter was to be with her father from Friday to Monday, while the remainder of the week, she would be with Galloway. Interestingly, the shooting transpired on a day that the child was due to meet her father. Security footage unearthed from the crime scene depicts a chilling scene, showing Galloway moments before the fatal incident.
The footage shows Galloway securing her youngest daughter in the backseat, shortly before she was approached by Leigh and struck deadly in the head. Tragically, she was shot again in the back while she lay on the ground. During the investigation, two firearms were found, one on the nearby sidewalk and one stashed in Leigh’s tote bag.
At this time, it is not clear if the firearms discovered at the crime scene had any connection to Leigh’s career as a probation officer. While Leigh’s last officially recorded residence was in Chicago, current probing revealed that she had perhaps been staying with family in New York City for the past few years.
Galloway, a well-educated woman who held both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Fordham University, was mourned by her Alma mater. A statement released by the university expressed their profound sorrow over her tragic death. Galloway served as a volunteer assistant for the track and field coach at Fordham for a notable 17 years before leaving in 2019.
Not only was Galloway an accomplished academic, but she was also an established athlete. During her years at Fordham, she had been a high jumper in addition to being a part of various sprint and relay teams. She achieved notable success during her senior year after placing third in the high jump at the Metropolitan Championships.
The murder-suicide occurred less than a block away from Gracie Mansion, the residence of Mayor Adams. The startling incident drew the attention of police officers tasked with the mayor’s security. Mayor Adams, upon hearing the news, was swift to arrive at the scene. Any inquiries directed at City Hall regarding the shooting were redirected to the NYPD.
The double shooting has left the residents of this peaceful Manhattan neighborhood in a state of dismay. Once considered a safe haven, the tranquillity of this area was disrupted, leading Denise Sweeney, a longtime resident, to reevaluate her perspective of safety. She narrated that, while she normally feels secure in the area, this traumatic event had changed her views.
Tragic Murder-Suicide Shocks Quiet Neighborhood in Upper East Side, Chicago appeared first on Real News Now.
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