A young mother climbed over a safety rail and plunged into Niagara Falls with her baby and nine-year-old son, according to New York state police.
Authorities responded to the incident in the park at around 9pm on Monday after passersby reported people crossing into the Falls, James O’Callaghan, a New York state trooper, told reporters.
The woman, identified by police as 33-year-old Chianti Means, stepped over the guardrail with her two young children, nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means. The family was from the Niagara Falls area, police said.
The incident took place on Luna Island, the small island between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls which, along with the Horseshoe Falls, make up North America’s largest waterfall.
“The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation,” state police said in a news release.
Family has been involved in investigation
Authorities are using unmanned aircraft and underwater units to support the investigation, though search and rescue efforts have so far been unsuccessful.
Chianti was employed as a domestic violence counsellor and attended University at Buffalo, according to her social media profiles.
Mr O’Callaghan told reporters that there are “a lot of security measures” at Luna Falls, so “it’s not something where they just stumbled in,” he said.
He added that the family has been involved in the investigation.
‘My son gave me reason to live’
Tributes for the mother poured in on social media with one woman, Niesha Eukeya, writing: “You really never know what anybody is going through…. Rip to Niyah’s aunt Chianti Means. Diamond Scott.”
Another woman, Mich Molina, wrote: “Can’t even bare [sic] to write a post about her and share memories..
“I am literally sick to my stomach and I can’t even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.”
The cover photo from Ms Means’ Facebook profile includes a moving tribute to her son.
“I love my son!” it reads. “I gave him life…he gave me a reason to live.”