Tragic Incident: Grandmother Fatally Shot by Former Probation Officer in Presence of 1-Year-Old in New York City
New York City, NY- Shortly before 9 a.m. On Friday, July 26, police officers in New York City swiftly responded to multiple 911 calls regarding gunshots fired near Gracie Mansion. Upon arrival, they discovered two women who had sustained gunshot wounds to the head.
During a press conference held shortly after the incident, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny revealed that a loaded gun was found between the two women.
Marisa Galloway, aged 45, was taken to a hospital in the Upper East Side and unfortunately passed away due to gunshot injuries to the head and lower back.
Kathleen Leigh, 65, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, as revealed by the NYPD’s preliminary investigation.
According to Kenny, the police discovered Galloway’s 1-year-old child safe and sound inside the mother’s parked white Honda Civic.
According to the police, Leigh was the paternal grandmother to Galloway’s 4-year-old child. The child has been at the center of a custody dispute between the parents. The police have documented five domestic violence reports and two other complaints related to the family. According to Kenny, no arrests have been made as a result of those reports.
According to Kenny, the police have identified the custody battle as the possible motive in the case. However, it’s important to note that the investigation into what seems to be a murder-suicide is still in its early stages.
During the initial investigation, video surveillance footage captured Leigh, a retired Cook County probation officer from Chicago, Ill., who had recently moved to New York City to live with family, approaching Galloway as she places her baby’s stroller in the trunk, as stated by Kenny.
In the video capturing the incident, Leigh fires at Galloway, hitting her in the head. Following Galloway’s fall to the ground, Leigh proceeds to shoot her once more in the back. Kenny said that Galloway had already put her baby in the backseat before Leigh started shooting.
Authorities discovered two firearms, one in close proximity to Leigh’s remains and another concealed within her tote bag.
Kenny mentioned that the police were looking into whether she had acquired the guns during her time as a probation officer in Illinois.
Source: PEOPLE
