A New York mother jumped from Niagara Falls with her two young children, including a 5-month-old baby, killing all three, police said.
New York State Police said 33-year-old Chianti Means stepped over a guardrail Monday night at Luna Island, a popular viewing platform above the 200-foot waterfall.
Police responded around 9 p.m., and investigators determined the break-in was “intentional.”
State police said “the situation is still under investigation.”
Mr. Means and his children, 9-year-old Roman Rothman and baby Mecca Means, were residents of Niagara Falls.
Rescuers had not yet found the body as of Wednesday.
His mother worked as a domestic violence counselor and graduated from a school near Buffalo, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Friends quickly began paying tribute to Means on social media.
“I was speechless, crying and couldn’t sleep at all,” friend Keishona Morgan wrote on Facebook. “My heart is broken. Mental health is no joke.”
“I can’t even bear writing about her and sharing memories,” said friend Mitch Molina.
“I’m literally sick to my stomach and I can’t even process the emotions I’m feeling. Please know that she and her children are deeply loved by me and my children,” she added. .
Another, Nisha Eukeya, said: “You really don’t understand what people are going through.”
Luna Island is one of several popular observation decks located on the New York side of Niagara Falls.
It’s one of the more secluded lookouts in the vast Niagara Falls State Park, separated from the rest of the property by a riverside causeway, with a chest-thumping platform separating it from the deadly drop. Just the height handrail. Down below.
This area is managed by the New York State Department of Parks and Recreation and is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
More than 8 million people pass through the park each year, according to state officials.
The fatal accident was just the latest tragedy to occur at the landmark in recent years.
In 2023, another mother jumped into the Niagara Gorge just downstream of the falls with her son.
The mother died in the fall, but rescuers were able to save the 5-year-old boy.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
