A Missouri mother and her 2-month-old baby are dead after being fatally shot by police during a domestic disturbance call.
The Independence Police Department (IPD) released body camera footage from the tragic incident on Nov. 7 at the Oval Spring Apartments, showing 34-year-old Maria Pike holding her infant daughter, Destinii Hope. In the video, Pike lunges at officers while brandishing a large kitchen knife.
The footage reveals officers initially speaking calmly to Pike, who was visibly upset and standing inside a closet. Despite repeated requests to put the baby down, Pike exited the closet and sat on a bed beside a nightstand. Her husband, the baby’s father, was present during the encounter.
About 11 minutes into the interaction, Pike suddenly grabbed a knife from the bedside table and charged toward an officer. The bodycam footage captures an officer exclaiming “Woah!” as Pike turned, with the knife raised above her head, still holding her baby.
“The female retrieved the large kitchen knife and charged at officers while still holding the child,” the IPD stated, according to the New York Post. “As a result, one officer fired at the female, and both she and the infant sustained fatal injuries.”
The department has not disclosed the identity of the officer who fired the fatal shots, nor what occurred after the video footage froze.
The three officers involved have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. The IPD has emphasized their full cooperation with the external investigation led by the Police Involved Investigation Team.
“The Independence Police Department has been and will continue to be as transparent as legally permitted,” the department stated. “We fully understand the demand surrounding the events of that day and will continue to cooperate with the investigation.”
The family had hoped Pike would be arrested and given treatment, as she had been diagnosed with postpartum depression. Destinii’s grandmother called for help, stating that Pike had been violent.
The tragic loss of Pike and Destinii has shaken the community. While he couldn’t disclose many details due to the ongoing investigation, Pike’s husband expressed his desire for the full, unedited bodycam footage to be released.
Oval Springs Apartments Assistant Property Manager Gavin Delaney had a brief interaction with police officers before the shooting. In the footage, he is seen answering the door for the officers.
“I just kind of sat in shock for a little while. It just kind of brought it all back having been there,” he said.
Delaney also stated that there was no escalation while he was present. He left less than two minutes before the shooting took place.
The Kansas City Law Enforcement Accountability Project, which focuses on police-related violence, criticized the department for releasing the video the day before Thanksgiving.
“It is unconscionable that, after the trauma the families of baby Destinii and mom Maria have endured, the Independence Police Department would release highly-edited bodycam footage of this tragedy on Thanksgiving Eve,” the organization told the outlet.
“The thought that IPD could not give the grieving families enough respect to allow them a peaceful holiday, instead releasing the video to the media without warning, is inexcusable.”
