A mother and grandmother have died after a violent confrontation over child custody on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
The incident occurred on East 88th Street near York Avenue at around 9 a.m. on Friday. The area was busy with people, many of whom were out with baby strollers, and they quickly sought safety when they heard gunshots.
Police are looking into what seems to be a murder-suicide involving a custody dispute.
Marissa Galloway, 45, was putting her stroller in her car when her child’s grandmother, Kathleen Leigh, 65, approached. Police say Leigh, who was from Chicago, shot Galloway in the head and then again in the back as she lay on the ground. Leigh then turned the gun on herself and died at the scene. Galloway was rushed to the hospital but also later died.
The shooting was linked to an ongoing custody battle between Galloway and the child’s father, who was not hurt. The NYPD had records of multiple domestic disputes involving this family.
Police found a 9mm gun on the sidewalk next to Leigh and another gun in her bag. Leigh had retired from her job as a probation officer and had been living in New York for three years.
Galloway was a dedicated runner and track coach at Fordham University, where she was well-liked. Fordham University expressed deep sorrow over her death and remembered her contributions to the track team.
Galloway also worked as a teacher in Westchester and is survived by her son and a 1-year-old daughter, who was not at the scene.