Chicago native among 2 killed in New York City shooting over custody battle: NYPD

(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A 65-year-old Chicago native has been identified as the shooter in a New York City murder-suicide that took place on Friday, police said.

According to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), 45-year-old Melissa Galloway was putting her infant son into a car when she was approached by her ex-mother-in-law Kathleen Leigh, of Chicago. Authorities said Leigh opened fire on Galloway before turning the gun on herself.

NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said it happened just before 9 a.m. He told reporters they have video that shows how the shooting took place.

“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. Lee, who shoots her in the head and then, when [Galloway] is on the ground, shoots her in the back.”

The New York Times reported that the shooting took place a half-block from the Gracie Mansion, the New York City mayor's official residence.

Kenny said Leigh was a retired Cook County probation officer living in New York. Police believe it was a custody battle that led to the murder-suicide.

The 1-year-old boy was unharmed in the attack, police said.

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