INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A woman and a child are dead after an officer fired a weapon while responding to a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the Kansas City suburb of Independence, Missouri.
“Heartbreaking” is how Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman described it at a news conference Friday.
He said the woman was armed with a knife when officers responded Thursday afternoon to a 911 call about a possible assault. Dustman said there were attempts to de-escalate the situation and that a mental health provider was embedded with the unit. But such providers aren’t equipped to deal with armed suspects, and didn’t engage with the woman before the situation escalated, he said.
He said one officer, a “long-tenured veteran of law enforcement,” ultimately discharged a firearm.
“As a result of that encounter, it resulted in two fatalities, one to the armed female and one to a child,” Dustman said.
Asked whether the child was shot by police or injured before officers arrived, he said he didn’t have that information and noted that an investigation is ongoing. He also declined to release the names of the two who died or their ages.
He said police had responded to the apartment at least once earlier, but had no details.
Carrie Lufkin, who manages the apartment, said she first knew something was amiss when she saw a woman sitting on a curb, crying. The woman told Lufkin that she was attacked by the woman when she went to the apartment to see her infant granddaughter so she called the police.
Lufkin said she heard gunshots and then watched an officer carry the baby, who was only a few months old, out of the apartment.
“I thought he was saving the baby. And so I was like, ‘Are you bringing the baby to me? I’ll hold the baby until this is over,’” Lufkin recalled.
Lufkin said the grandmother told her that child welfare services had been at the apartment earlier in the week but didn’t get a response at the apartment. A spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Social Services, which oversees the Children’s Division, didn’t immediately respond to an email message seeking comment.
Lufkin said a man on the lease left the apartment in handcuffs. Dustman said no arrests were made at the scene. He didn’t answer a question about whether someone was taken in handcuffs.
The officer who fired the weapon was placed on administrative leave, along with two other officers who responded to the scene, as is standard procedure while an investigation is underway. Dustman said their response was “exactly as they were trained to perform.”
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office said in a news release that its staff went to the scene and met with the independent team overseeing the investigation. But prosecutors and police in nearby Blue Springs, who are overseeing the investigation, didn’t immediately release additional information.
The apartment complex where a woman and child died after an officer fired a weapon during a domestic disturbance is seen Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Heather Hollingsworth)
Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman talks to reporters Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, after an officer fired a weapon while responding to a domestic disturbance at an apartment complex in Independence, a suburb of Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Heather Hollingsworth)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry made sure Ravens coach John Harbaugh could maintain bragging rights over his younger brother.
Jackson threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score, and Henry rushed for 140 yards as Baltimore beat Jim Harbaugh's Los Angeles Chargers 30-23 on Monday night.
John Harbaugh improved to 3-0 in the Harbaugh Bowl.
“It means a lot. With me being a big brother, I can’t lose to my little brother. That’s what I believe going into the game he was thinking about that a lot. We came out victorious today,” Jackson said.
It was the first matchup between the Harbaughs since Super Bowl 47 in February 2013, when John's Ravens beat Jim's San Francisco 49ers. Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL this year after nine seasons at Michigan, where he won a national title.
The brothers shared a quick hug and handshake at midfield after the game.
“I just told him, ‘You’re a great coach and you have a great team. And I love you.’ And he said, ‘I love you and congratulations.’ It was good,” John Harbaugh said.
Justice Hill ran for a 51-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put it out reach for the Ravens (8-4), who have won three of four.
Justin Herbert completed 21 of 36 for 218 yards ran for a 5-yard touchdown on a scramble up the middle on the Chargers' opening drive.
The Chargers went 54 minutes between touchdowns. Gus Edwards went 1 yard off left guard to get them within 30-23 with 45 seconds remaining. Baltimore's Isaiah Likely recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Cameron Dicker had three field goals as the Chargers (7-4) had their four-game winning streak snapped.
“I thought we did a good job of limiting turnovers and keeping the ball. We’ve just got to score more points,” Herbert said.
The Chargers had to rely more on Herbert and the passing game after running back J.K. Dobbins suffered a knee injury in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Ravens finished with 212 yards rushing and outgained the Chargers 389 yards to 285. Henry didn’t score a touchdown for the first time this season but had a productive night with 24 carries.
“They ran the ball real well. We need better block destruction just across the board, but you’ve got to give them credit. They did a heck of a job,” Jim Harbaugh said.
The Ravens trailed 10-0 but scored on five straight drives to take control. They also converted three fourth downs, including a 2-yard gain by Mark Andrews on a direct snap late in the second quarter on fourth-and-1 at their own 16 on what ended up being the go-ahead drive.
“This is a big win for our guys. I’m proud of the way they came out and responded. We were down 10-0 and our guys stepped up,” John Harbaugh said. “They really didn’t flinch and kept fighting. They locked in on the details and played good, winning football.”
Jackson, who leads the league in total yards, completed 16 of 22 passes for 177 yards. He also had 17 rushing yards, including a 10-yard keeper off right end early in the second quarter to get the Ravens within 10-7.
Henry was held to 13 yards on three carries on the Ravens' first two drives, but got back in gear on the team's third possession with three carries for 44 yards.
“It definitely added a spark, you know, got us some momentum on our side and be able to get in there and get in the end zone,” Henry said. “It just happened that we were able to get a drive together and finish a drive with points and get us going.”
Five plays after Andrews' fourth-down conversion, Jackson threw a deep ball to Rashod Bateman, who made a contested catch in the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens a 14-10 advantage.
“Just giving him an opportunity. I believe my receivers have great hands and he made a terrific catch,” Jackson said.
Baltimore extended its lead to 23-16 when Andrews caught a 6-yard pass in the back of the end zone. The Ravens' 2-point conversion attempt was no good.
Hill put Baltimore up by two scores midway through the fourth quarter with his run off right end on third-and-3. It was the third TD run of at least 51 yards at SoFi Stadium in a 24-hour period after Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley had scoring runs of 72 and 70 yards en route to a 255-yard rushing night against the Rams Sunday night.
“I feel like some of my passes early were off and I was ticked off. But we have a great running back, offensive line and helped them get in the groove and we kept our foot on the gas,” Jackson said.
Jackson improved to 7-2 in Monday night games, including 6-1 on the road.
He has a 124.3 passer rating on Monday nights, the best in NFL history, with 22 touchdown passes and no interceptions.
Ravens: LB Roquan Smith (hamstring), who leads Baltimore with 110 tackles, was inactive.
Chargers: In addition to Dobbins, CB Eli Apple (hamstring) was injured in the first half and did not return.
Ravens: Host Philadelphia on Sunday.
Chargers: At Atlanta on Sunday.
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Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) breaks up a pass intended for Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer (5) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh, left, hugs Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh after an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, right, hugs wide receiver Zay Flowers after a win over the Los Angeles Chargers in an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, right, hugs his brother Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh before an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) scores a rushing touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins (27) runs past Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) calls a play during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scores a rushing touchdown as Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley attempts a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Poona Ford (95) celebrates after a defensive stop during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) reaches for a first down as Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still (29) defends during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (22) is tackled by Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still (29) during the second half of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) celebrates his touchdown catch with wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
