On November 17, 2022, a violent domestic incident unfolded at a residence in the 1400 block of South Crane Street in Independence, Missouri, resulting in the death of 60-year-old Kathy Marie Galloway McCarty. Independence police officers were dispatched to the home around 6:15 p.m. following reports of a shooting inside the residence. Upon arrival, they were met at the front door by McCarty’s boyfriend, 60-year-old Leslie D. Moore. Inside, officers discovered McCarty suffering from two apparent gunshot wounds, including a fatal wound to the abdomen.
Despite her critical injuries, McCarty was able to provide a dying declaration to the first responders. As she was being loaded into an ambulance for transport to the hospital, a police sergeant asked her who had shot her. Court documents reveal that she replied, 'My boyfriend,' and specifically identified him as 'Leslie.' She further explained to the officers that she had been getting up to go to the shower when she saw Moore pointing a gun at her. McCarty was rushed to a nearby hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
Investigators immediately detained Moore, who was the only other person at the scene. During an interview at Independence police headquarters, Moore allegedly admitted to keeping firearms inside the house, claiming they were for protection against intruders. However, a background check revealed that Moore had a prior felony conviction for drug distribution in Jackson County from 2001, which legally prohibited him from possessing any firearms.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office charged Leslie D. Moore with a single felony count of unlawful possession of a firearm. At the time of the initial filing, prosecutors had not yet leveled murder charges against him, though Independence detectives formally classified the case as a homicide investigation. Moore was booked into the Jackson County jail on a $100,000 cash-only bond while authorities continued to build their case regarding the fatal shooting itself.
