WARNING: This video may be disturbing to some viewers. It is not the raw footage of the shooting.The Independence Police Department released body-camera footage Wednesday of a shooting that resulted in the deaths of a mother and an infant.Officers were dispatched on Nov. 7, 2024, to the Oval Springs Apartment Complex following reports of a domestic assault.Upon arrival, officers spoke with the apartment complex manager, who granted them access to the unit.Inside the apartment, officers found an adult woman holding an infant in a bedroom closet.According to the Independence Police Department, officers engaged with the woman for over 11 minutes, attempting to de-escalate the situation and persuade her to release the child.During the interaction, officers observed a large knife concealed on a nearby nightstand.The woman eventually exited the closet, walked past the officers, and sat on the bed near the knife.Footage shows the woman retrieving the weapon and charging at the officers while still holding the infant, police said.An officer then discharged their firearm, striking both the woman and the child.The incident is currently under investigation by the eastern Jackson County Police Incident Investigation Team.In a statement Wednesday, Independence police said this would be their only update on the matter until the end of the investigation. "Regarding the on-going investigation involving the Officer-Involved Shooting on November 7, 2024, we understand the desire for information. The Independence Police Department- has been and will continue to be as transparent as legally permitted. IPD fully understands the demand surrounding the events of that day and we will continue to fully cooperate with the outside investigation being conducted by the Police Involved Investigation Team (PIIT)."Police released the footage in an email to newsrooms across the metro. Community ReactionResidents near the scene of where the shooting happened talked to KMBC about the video. “It’s really nothing you can do when someone’s got a weapon in their hand and a baby in the other,” said Tanesha Greer, a resident of Independence who watched the video online. “This shook this community because stuff like that rarely happens in Independence."The shooting, which disrupted the area for nearly eight hours, has sparked debate over whether the situation could have been handled differently. Some question if a less lethal option, such as a Taser, might have been used instead of a firearm.Others, however, believe officers had little choice but to follow their training.“Only God knows what was going on in that woman’s mind,” said Tim Beadles, another Independence resident. “Those officers, they have a split second to react.”Beadles also acknowledged the challenge of judging the officers’ actions after the fact.“It’s easy to Monday morning quarterback, but that’s out of line for anybody to try to find fault with them,” he said.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. —
WARNING: This video may be disturbing to some viewers. It is not the raw footage of the shooting.
The Independence Police Department released body-camera footage Wednesday of a shooting that resulted in the deaths of a mother and an infant.
Officers were dispatched on Nov. 7, 2024, to the Oval Springs Apartment Complex following reports of a domestic assault.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with the apartment complex manager, who granted them access to the unit.
Inside the apartment, officers found an adult woman holding an infant in a bedroom closet.
According to the Independence Police Department, officers engaged with the woman for over 11 minutes, attempting to de-escalate the situation and persuade her to release the child.
During the interaction, officers observed a large knife concealed on a nearby nightstand.
The woman eventually exited the closet, walked past the officers, and sat on the bed near the knife.
Footage shows the woman retrieving the weapon and charging at the officers while still holding the infant, police said.
An officer then discharged their firearm, striking both the woman and the child.
The incident is currently under investigation by the eastern Jackson County Police Incident Investigation Team.
In a statement Wednesday, Independence police said this would be their only update on the matter until the end of the investigation.
"Regarding the on-going investigation involving the Officer-Involved Shooting on November 7, 2024, we understand the desire for information. The Independence Police Department- has been and will continue to be as transparent as legally permitted. IPD fully understands the demand surrounding the events of that day and we will continue to fully cooperate with the outside investigation being conducted by the Police Involved Investigation Team (PIIT)."
Police released the footage in an email to newsrooms across the metro.
Community Reaction
Residents near the scene of where the shooting happened talked to KMBC about the video.
“It’s really nothing you can do when someone’s got a weapon in their hand and a baby in the other,” said Tanesha Greer, a resident of Independence who watched the video online. “This shook this community because stuff like that rarely happens in Independence."
The shooting, which disrupted the area for nearly eight hours, has sparked debate over whether the situation could have been handled differently.
Some question if a less lethal option, such as a Taser, might have been used instead of a firearm.
Others, however, believe officers had little choice but to follow their training.
“Only God knows what was going on in that woman’s mind,” said Tim Beadles, another Independence resident. “Those officers, they have a split second to react.”
Beadles also acknowledged the challenge of judging the officers’ actions after the fact.
“It’s easy to Monday morning quarterback, but that’s out of line for anybody to try to find fault with them,” he said.
