Body camera footage has been released, revealing the moment a Missouri mother and her 2-month-old daughter were shot dead by a cop.
Maria Pike had lunged at officers while holding a knife, prompting one cop to draw his gun. The incident occurred inside Pike’s home in Independence, Missouri, on November 7, and bodycam footage was released on Wednesday, November 27.
Prior to the shooting, Pike had a physical altercation with Destinii’s paternal grandmother, Talisa Coombs, according to reports. Coombs is thought to have expressed concern about the baby’s welfare.
Coombs alleged Pike threw things at her and pulled her hair during the altercation. She also claimed Pike tried to push her down the stairs when Coombs went to check on Destinii.
According to KCTV, Coombs contacted the Missouri Department of Social Services’ Children’s Division as well as Independence police.
Family members expressed hope that police would arrest Pike and assist her in seeking postpartum depression treatment.
Body camera footage from the shooting shows Independence officers approaching Coombs and her husband, Brian Coombs, outside a building at the Opal Springs Apartments.
Cops were given permission to enter Pike’s home, where she was discovered holding her daughter inside a closet.
Police spoke with Pike for 11 minutes. In the video, an officer is heard asking if she was hurt. Pike replied by nodding her head.
Independence police officers asked Pike to release her daughter, but she refused. Instead, she sat on the bed, while Mitchell Holder, her daughter’s father, sat at the foot.
Pike was then seen picking up the knife while still carrying her baby. She raised the knife above her head before lunging at an officer.
The bodycam footage stops before any shots are fired, and it is unclear how many times the officer fired his weapon.
“I seek accountability. Nina Book, Pike’s sister, told Fox 4 Kansas City, “I want the cop to take responsibility.” All three officers who responded to Coombs’ call are on administrative leave while the Police-Involved Incident Team conducts an investigation.