UES Mourns Woman Slain In Murder-Suicide, Raises $80K For Her Family

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Community members and grieving loved ones of an Upper East Side mother of two who was shot by her ex-mother-in-law last week have started a GoFundMe page to support her family.

The fundraiser will assist with the numerous expenses for Marisa Galloway’s family following her tragic death at the hands of ex-probation officer Kathleen Leigh, which occurred amid a bitter and ongoing custody dispute involving one of Galloway’s children.

Police said Leigh, 65, fatally shot Galloway, 45, at around 9 a.m. on July 26 in front of 519 East 88 St., half a block from Gracie Mansion, before turning the gun on herself.

"Marisa Galloway touched everyone she met. Her kindness, generosity, and love were unparalleled," the GoFundMe reads. "She devoted her whole life to her two beautiful daughters, Lili and Mariel...they were her world."

The shooting apparently unfolded during what seemed to be a custody exchange.

On Friday, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated that Leigh shot Galloway in the back and head just minutes after Galloway placed her one-year-old child in the backseat of her vehicle. Fortunately, the child was not harmed in the incident.

"We have on video Ms. Galloway puts the child in the back seat of the car," Kenny said. "She is then in the process of putting the stroller in the trunk where she is approached by Ms. Leigh, who shoots her in the head, and then when she’s on the ground, shoots her in the back."

Leigh has been identified as the grandmother of Galloway's four-year-old child but did not confirm if she was also related to the one-year-old found at the scene.

Prior to the shooting, police reported receiving at least five domestic incident reports and two complaint reports related to the ongoing custody disputes. However, none of these incidents led to any arrests.

"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," the GoFundMe states.

Since its launch two days ago, the fundraiser has raised over $80,000 for the family, thanks to more than 700 donors. For more information, click here.