A tragic incident unfolded in Independence, Missouri, resulting in the deaths of a woman and a child after police responded to a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex. Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman described the situation as “heartbreaking” during a press briefing on Friday.

According to Dustman, the police were summoned after a 911 call reported a possible assault, and when they arrived Thursday afternoon, they found that the woman was armed with a knife. Efforts were made to defuse the situation, including the involvement of a mental health professional who was part of the responding unit. However, the chief noted that mental health providers are not trained to manage situations involving weapons and did not engage the woman before tensions escalated.

During this encounter, a veteran officer discharged their firearm, leading to the unfortunate deaths of both the armed female and the child present. When questioned about whether the child had been shot by police or was already harmed before the officers reached the scene, Dustman stated he was unable to provide that information, emphasizing that the investigation was ongoing. So far, the identities and ages of the deceased have not been disclosed.

This was reportedly not the first time police had been summoned to the apartment, although specific details about earlier calls were not shared. Carrie Lufkin, the apartment manager, recounted her discovery of the situation when she saw a woman crying on the curb. The woman informed Lufkin that she had been attacked while trying to visit her infant granddaughter, prompting her to call for help.

Lufkin further described the horrifying moment when she heard gunfire and witnessed an officer carrying the baby—just a few months old—out of the apartment. She recalled thinking the officer was rescuing the child and offered to hold the baby until the situation was resolved.

The grandmother reportedly mentioned that child welfare services had previously visited the apartment earlier in the week but had received no response from its occupants. Despite inquiries made to the Missouri Department of Social Services, there was no immediate response regarding this aspect.

Witnesses also reported seeing a man leave the apartment in handcuffs, but Dustman clarified that no arrests had taken place at the scene and did not confirm whether anyone had indeed been taken away in handcuffs. The officer who discharged the weapon, along with two other responding officers, has been placed on administrative leave as part of the standard procedure during the investigation. Dustman stated that their actions conformed to their training protocols.

The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that its personnel visited the site and met with the external team managing the investigation. However, further details were not immediately provided by the prosecutors or the police department in neighboring Blue Springs, who are overseeing the ongoing inquiry.