‘I can’t imagine being that family’: Woman, child killed during shooting involving police

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. ( KCTV /Gray News) - A woman and a child died following a shooting that involved police in Missouri last week.

The shooting happened at the Oval Spring Apartments complex , just a few blocks south of E 23rd Street and MO-291 Highway in Independence.

Independence interim police chief Adam Dustman said officers responded to a domestic violence disturbance call at 1:45 p.m. and came across a woman armed with a knife.

A mental health responder also arrived on scene in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

Officials say a child was also involved in the situation, but did not specify if the child was related to the woman. The child's age was also not specified.

What happened immediately after police arrived on the scene is not clear, but officials say an officer fired a gun, and the woman and child died following the incident.

The Independence Police Department called the situation "tragic."

"It always is. There is never an instance where this doesn't affect the community and your first responders," said Kelly Rupert, a spokesperson for IPD. "This isn't the outcome anybody wants."

Three officers, including the officer who fired a weapon, have been placed on administrative leave.

Chief Dustman could not clarify if the officer did kill the woman or child – just that both died following the incident. The names of the woman and child will also not be released until the next of kin has been notified.

Neighbors and witnesses spoke with KCTV about what they saw unfold at the Oval Spring complex Thursday night.

"I looked around and there was just nothing but cops everywhere," said Heather Roszell, who lives at Oval Spring. "My neighbors around here started texting me what was going on.

"The whole Independence police station was here," said Lincoln Clay, who has lived in the complex for seven years. "It's nice to know that they came on time to try to help with the situation or whatever transpired, I don't know, but it's sad to see. Right outside your door, it's really sad."

Department leaders noted that since law enforcement officials were involved in the shooting, the Eastern Jackson County Officer Involved Investigating Team will oversee the case.

The Jackson County Prosecutor's Office also said it would play a role in the investigation.

As the investigation continues, Chief Dustman says he stands by the officer , who is described as a long-tenured veteran of law enforcement, and their decision as it is part of the training they have been taught regardless of a child involved.

"It's no different than what the law requires, which is if there is imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to anyone else or themselves, that is an evaluation factor," he said. "Their response was exactly as they were trained to perform yesterday and they did so according to that training and expertise."

"Unfortunately sometimes through the course of our duties and the things that we are called to, those split-second decisions are made and that tragedy occurs," Dustman said. "My heart goes out to that family that was absolutely torn apart yesterday."

The Oval Spring Apartments will host a memorial vigil this coming Friday for the child who passed away. The vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. and is open for the public to attend. The memorial will include candles and a balloon release in front of the building where the situation unfolded.

"It affects everybody. It affects the family; it affects the law enforcement that was involved. It was absolutely tragic. I can't imagine being that family," said Oval Spring Apartments property manager Carrie Lufkin. "We want to do the right thing and let everyone know we are deeply saddened, and we really care so much."

Next week, the complex will also have mental health professionals on-site to help the apartment community through the emotions of what happened.