Body camera footage has been released, capturing the tragic moment a Missouri mother and her 2-month-old daughter were fatally shot by a police officer.
Maria Pike reportedly lunged at officers with a knife, prompting one officer to fire. The incident occurred on November 7 inside Pike’s home in Independence, Missouri. The footage, made public on Wednesday, November 27, sheds light on the events leading to the shooting.
Before the fatal encounter, Pike was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with Talisa Coombs, the paternal grandmother of her daughter, Destinii. According to reports, Coombs had raised concerns about the infant’s safety. She accused Pike of throwing objects, pulling her hair, and attempting to push her down the stairs while she tried to check on the baby.
Coombs contacted the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department for Social Services and the Independence police for assistance. Family members hoped the police would arrest Pike and help her access support for postpartum depression.
The body camera footage shows officers speaking with Talisa and Brian Coombs outside the Opal Springs Apartment complex before entering Pike’s home. Inside, Pike was found in a closet holding her baby.
Officers spent 11 minutes communicating with Pike, asking if she was hurt. She nodded in response but refused to hand over her daughter. Pike then moved to sit on the bed, where the child’s father, Mitchell Holder, was also present.
The situation escalated when Pike picked up a knife while holding her baby. She raised the knife above her head and lunged at an officer. The footage ends before shots were fired, leaving the number of gunshots unclear.
“I want accountability. I want responsibility on the cop,” Pike’s sister, Nina Book, told Fox 4 KC. The three officers involved are currently on administrative leave as a Police-Involved Incident Team investigates the shooting.
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