Security footage reportedly shows the devastating tragedy that saw a mother and her two children "intentionally" jump from Niagara Falls.
Authorities are continuing to investigate a tragic incident that occurred Monday, October 28, when 33-year-old Chianti Means fell to her death along with her two young children, nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means.
The mother and her children reportedly climbed over a safety railing at Niagara Falls State Park. Police believe the incident was intentional.
Witnesses reported seeing the family near Luna Island, a small area between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, around 9:00PM, prompting New York State Police and Park Police to respond to the scene.
In an interview with WKBW TV, a member of the New York State Police said investigators suspect that Means deliberately jumped with her children.
"We do believe it was intentional, but the circumstances of that investigation and the circumstances of what actually happened are still under investigation," the police representative stated.
"But we know that they went over due to the information from park police and some of the information we were able to obtain through multiple different sources in and around Niagara Falls and pieces of evidence we were able to come across in search warrants."
Security footage reviewed by police appears to confirm that nine-year-old Roman Rossman was sent over the barrier first, followed by five-month-old Mecca Means.
Means herself reportedly went over afterward, per the Niagara Gazette.
Means, who lived in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area and worked as a domestic violence counselor, had shared a series of concerning posts on social media prior to the incident.
The New York Post reports that she graduated from Buffalo State University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in social work and later completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Buffalo.
In the weeks before her death, Means, whose Facebook account was registered under the name Diamond Scott, made several posts indicating emotional distress.
One message read: “I wish someone would love me because the man that’s suppose [sic] to does not.”
On October 1, she posted: “Everyone please leave me alone I’m in love with my daughter’s father,” and added: “I want my family back. Respectfully Idga* what I said about him before or what anyone else thinks.”
In her final post, a day before her death, she wrote: “Unfortunately for everyone who wanna get with me… my body only craves one person. GM.”
The New York State Police, along with the Park Police, continue to work on locating the bodies of Means and her children.
Specialized units, including the State Police Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aviation, and Underwater Recovery Units, are assisting in the search efforts.
In a statement shared by The New York Post, state troopers confirmed: “The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.