Community comes together to mourn mother and infant killed during police shooting
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) - A week after a mother and her 2-month-old baby died following a police shooting in Independence, dozens of people stood inside an Independence apartment complex holding candles. They were looking for comfort and strength together.
34-year-old Maria Pike and her baby girl, Destinii Hope, were killed last Thursday at the Oval Spring Apartments near MO-291 and 23rd Street.
Friday night, Felisha Holder, Destinii’s aunt, looked around as people decorated poster boards with photos and messages in marker.
“It means a lot that the community feels what we feel,” Holder said. “It means the world. It won’t bring her back, but at least we know that we have a lot of here.”
Property manager Carrie Lufkin organized the vigil. She choked up as she addressed the crowd.
“We need to come together as a community and be strong together. And I’m here to you guys through every second of that,” Lufkin said.
Lufkin brought teddy bears for the children, hoping they would bring some small comfort to them. Holder addressed those who gathered with gratitude, but her anger and outrage were not far off.
“Why? Why would he do that? That is going through all of our heads. Why?” she asked in a pleading tone. “We do want justice. We want answers.”
Independence Police were called to the apartments on the afternoon of November 7. Holder said Destinii’s grandmother was seeking help, reporting that Pike was being violent. The family thought Maria would be arrested and given help. They said Pike had been diagnosed with postpartum depression.
Police said Pike had a knife and that an officer fired at least one shot, but they haven’t said much else, not even whether the mother or child was hit by the gunfire.
Investigators are reviewing body camera footage, but it hasn’t been released to the public.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker was at the vigil to provide to the family. When asked about the case, she said she understands the pressure for investigators to be quick but she prefers that they be thorough.
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