Grandmother who ambushed and executed her son’s ex while the victim was loading her child into car in after a custody exchange, blamed her victim for her son’s inability to bond with daughter

Retired Illinois probation officer Kathleen Leigh, 65, shot her son’s ex-girlfriend on a street in New York City street on Friday July 26, in the midst of a contentious three-year custody battle

Special education teacher Marisa Galloway, 45, was loading her one-year-old child into a car seat in the back of a parked car when her ex mother-in-law, Kathleen Leigh, 65, shot her in the head and her back

Leigh then took her own life by shooting herself in the head, but police found a 7-page suicide note, “for police”, in her pocket in which she accused Galloway of alienating the child from her son

The relationship between Galloway and shooter’s son had been fraught prior to the drawn out custody battle of their four-year-old daughter, including multiple incidents of domestic violence

Neighbors in the father’s apt building revealed that Leigh openly expressed her dislike for her son’s ex-girlfriend who she also accused of abusing the granddaughter

A mysterious note was found in the pocket of a grandmother who executed her son’s ex-wife Marisa Galloway, [photo], as she was loading her baby into a car on a NYC street, before turning the gun on herself on Friday July, 26

Kathleen Leigh, 65, fatally shot her former daughter-in-law in New York City amid a bitter custody dispute, police said.
A mysterious note was found in the pocket of the grandmother who executed her son’s ex-wife as she was loading her baby into a car before turning the gun on herself.
The terminally ill retired probation officer who gunned down her ex-daughter-in-law on the Upper East Side, before shooting herself, had a mysterious note in her pocket when she died, cops revealed.
The note had the words, “For Police,” scrawled on it, the source said.
It was found in Kathleen Leigh’s pants after she killed ex-daughter-in-law Marisa Galloway, on East 88th Street Friday morning, ostensibly motivated by a bitter custody feud involving Leigh’s granddaughter.
Now it has emerged that Leigh, who was terminally ill, was carrying a note which read ‘For Police’, the according to local reports.

Before being shot by the mother of her estranged husband Marisa Galloway was packing her child’s stroller into the back of her car a block from Gracie Mansion on New York’s Upper East Side, just before 9 am Friday, July 26

The contents of the suicide note penned found in the shooter’s pocket provides shocking new insight into the pre-meditated execution.
The 7-page note detailed her suffering from cancer and bad blood with victim Marisa Galloway.
The 4-year-old girl was the subject of a long-running and bitter custody dispute between Galloway, a special education teacher, and Leigh’s son that included allegations of abuse by both sides.
In her note Leigh complained that Galloway tried to alienate her 4-year-old daughter from her son, the girl’s father.
She adds that no one believed her and her son’s contentions that Galloway abused the child.

Surveillance footage shows Galloway’s former mother-in-law, Kathleen Leigh, was seen standing to the side, [photo], covering the gun with a Target shopping bag

Incidentally, the accusation of child abuse lodged by the Leigh’s son was twice investigated by Child Services, but proved to be unfounded.
45-year-old special education teacher, Marisa Galloway, was placing one of her daughters, aged one, into her vehicle on the Upper East Side during a custody swap when Leigh shot her in the head and back before taking her own life.

Galloway was placing one of her daughters, aged one, into her vehicle during a custody swap when Leigh shot her in the head and back before taking her own life

Galloway has been battling for custody of her four-year-old child with Leigh’s son, the father of the child, since 2021. The one-year-old has a different father.
The late mother had a history of domestic violence disputes with her partner related to the custody battle, said NYPD’s chief of detectives Joseph Kenny. 
Five reports and two complaints had been filed with the NYPD between July 2021 and November, but no arrests were made.

Galloway, [photo], was loading her one-year-old child into a car seat in the back of a parked car on July 26, when her ex mother-in-law, Kathleen Leigh, shot her in the head. Leigh then shot herself in the head

Leigh was pronounced dead at the scene. Galloway was rushed to the hospital, where life saving efforts were made, but she ultimately succumbed to her wounds.  
Two guns were recovered at the crime scene – a 9-millimeter gun from the sidewalk and another gun in the tote bag Leigh had on her.
Police are trying to confirm whether or not Leigh had owned the firearms during her time as a probation officer.

Galloway, a former volunteer coach at Fordham University and a board member of the Central Park Track Club, was described by friends and neighbors as a “devoted” mom who often toted her two daughters along in a stroller on runs

Galloway, a former volunteer coach at Fordham University and a board member of the Central Park Track Club, was described by friends and neighbors as a “devoted” mom who often toted her two daughters along in a stroller on runs.
Her family have since paid tribute to Galloway, saying her  ‘kindness, generosity, and love were unparalleled’.
‘She devoted her whole life to her two beautiful daughters, Lili and Mariel…they were her world,’ a statement on a GoFundMe states. The crowdfunding has raised nearly$93,000 of the $125,000 goal.

NYPD officers stand over the prone body of Marisa Leigh after she was fatally shot on a NYC street by former mother-in-law Kathleen Galloway before turning the gun on herself. Galloway’s daughter was in the car, unharmed

NYPD investigators discuss at the blood spot where Galloway was shot dead by her former mother-in-law Kathleen Leigh

Two handguns recovered from the crime scene after Kathleen Leigh shot her former daughter-in-law on July 26 outside 445 E. 86th Street in New York

‘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 to the apartment, located steps away from Mayor Adam’s residence, the Gracie Mansion, in the Yorkville just before 9 am that Friday.
The 911 caller reported hearing three gunshots, then looking out the window to see two women lying on the ground in a pool of their own blood.
First responders said Galloway was still breathing when they arrived, but was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Leigh was a retired probation officer from Chicago, and had moved in with her son in their Upper East Side apartment three years ago. Leigh reportedly, had terminal cancer and had been undergoing treatment while living with her son.
The neighbors have been in the know about Galloway and Leigh’s ongoing feud: ‘She always talked about the fact that she had a former [partner] that was harassing the hell out of her because I had child services at my door one evening asking if I had ever heard any problems next door,’ said one neighbor.

Leigh, a retired Cook County, IL, probation officer, was living with her son in NYC, while receiving treatment for terminal cancer. Her son had been in a 3-year custody battle with Galloway over their child, resulting in a history of disputes and domestic violence

‘I said, ‘No, no she’s a lovely, lovely mother, a lovely woman.’
By the existing custodial arrangement, the child’s father had custody Friday through Monday, while Galloway had their daughter Tuesday through Thursday.
Leigh allegedly believed Galloway to be abusive, as several of the reports included complaints from the four-year-old’s father, claiming that his daughter would arrive home with bruises on her arm, but investigators found the accusations unfounded.

Since 2021 Galloway [photo], had been battling for custody of her four-year-old child with Leigh’s son, the father of the child. Neighbors revealed that Leigh openly expressed her dislike for her ex daughter-in-law whom she has accused of abusing her granddaughter

Residents in the building who sounded skeptical about Leigh’s cancer diagnosis as she showed no signs said the retired probation officer, would often tell other residents that she believed Galloway was an abuser.
‘She used to say things to me like the mother is abusing the child,’ one neighbor said
‘I don’t think there was any evidence of that… but I know she did not like the ex-daughter-in-law.’