A mysterious note was found in the pocket of a grandmother who shot her son’s ex-wife to death as she loaded her baby into a car, then turned the gun on herself.
Kathleen Leigh, 65, shot and killed her former daughter-in-law Marisa Galloway, 45, in New York City during a heated custody dispute, police said.
Galloway was loading one of her one-year-old daughters into her car during a custody exchange when Leigh shot her in the head and back, then killed herself.
It has now emerged that Leigh, who was terminally ill, had a note with him that said ‘For the police’, New York Post defeated.
The contents of the letter were not immediately clear.
A mysterious note was found in the pocket of a grandmother who shot her son’s ex-wife, Marisa Galloway (pictured), dead as she loaded her baby into a car, before turning the gun on herself.
Galloway has been battling Leigh’s son, the child’s father, for custody of her four-year-old since 2021. The one-year-old has a different father.
The deceased mother had a history of domestic violence with her partner in connection with the custody battle, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny.
Between July 2021 and November 2021, five reports and two complaints were filed with the NYPD, but no arrests were made.
Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene. Galloway was rushed to hospital, where life-saving attempts were made, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
Two weapons were recovered at the scene: a 9-millimeter weapon from the sidewalk and another weapon in the bag Leigh was carrying. Police are trying to confirm whether Leigh had the firearms in her possession during her time as a probation officer.
Her family have since paid tribute to Galloway, saying her “kindness, generosity and love were second to none”.
“She devoted her entire life to her two beautiful daughters, Lili and Mariel…they were her world,” a statement said. GoFundMe states.
Galloway, 45, (pictured) was loading her one-year-old child into a car seat in the backseat of a parked car when her ex-mother-in-law, Kathleen Leigh, 65, shot her in the head. She then committed suicide by shooting herself in the head
Galloway has been battling Kathleen’s son, the child’s father, for custody of her four-year-old since 2021. The one-year-old is not Leigh’s son
“Marisa’s untimely passing will leave a void in all of our lives. But her memory will live on in her daughters and in all of our hearts.”
Police were called just before 9 a.m. to the apartment, which is a stone’s throw from Mayor Adam’s home, the Gracie Mansion, in Yorkville, a neighborhood known for being safe and quiet.
The 911 caller said he heard three gunshots and then looked out the window and saw two women lying on the ground in a pool of their own blood.
Emergency services reported that Galloway was still breathing when they arrived at the scene, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Leigh, a retired probation officer from Chicago, had moved into their Upper East Side apartment with her son three years ago.
Sources told the New York Post that Leigh had terminal cancer and was undergoing treatment while living in the gatehouse with her son.
The neighbours are aware of the ongoing feud between Galloway and Leigh.
She always talked about being a former [partner] “It was really upsetting because one night Child Protective Services came to my door asking if I had ever heard of any problems with the neighbors,” said Meryl Feidelman, Galloway’s neighbor.
Galloway has been battling Kathleen’s son, the child’s father, for custody of her four-year-old since 2021. The one-year-old is not Leigh’s son
The deceased mother had a history of domestic violence with her ex-partner in connection with the custody battle, said NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny. Pictured: A gun found at the crime scene
Between July 2021 and November, five reports and two complaints were filed with the NYPD, but no arrests were made. Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene
I said, ‘No, no, she’s a sweet, sweet mother, a sweet woman.’
Leigh reportedly believed Galloway was abusing him. Multiple reports included complaints from the four-year-old’s father, who claimed his daughter came home with bruises on her arm. However, investigators found the allegations to be unfounded.
However, residents of the building claim the opposite: A neighbor told the New York Post that the mother showed no signs of cancer and often told others in the building that she thought Galloway was an abuser.
“She said things to me about the mother abusing the child,” the neighbor said, “but I don’t think there’s any evidence of that.”
“But I know she didn’t like the ex-daughter-in-law.”
Her family have since paid tribute to Galloway, saying her ‘kindness, generosity and love were second to none’
Sources told the New York Post that the father had parental authority from Friday to Monday, while Galloway had parental authority over their daughter from Tuesday to Thursday.
According to reports, NYPD detectives entered the apartment and left with a cardboard box full of belongings.
The investigation is ongoing. No arrests have been made.