A tragic incident occurred at Niagara Falls earlier this week when 33-year-old Chianti Means and her two young children, including a 5-month-old baby, reportedly jumped from Luna Island, a well-known overlook with a nearly 200-foot drop.
New York State Police responded to the scene on Monday night, around 9 p.m., and concluded that the fall was intentional, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
The mother and her children, 9-year-old Roman Rossman and baby Mecca Means, were residents of Niagara Falls. As of Wednesday, search efforts have yet to recover any of their bodies.
Chianti Means worked as a domestic violence counselor and was a graduate of a school in nearby Buffalo. Her death has left friends and family members devastated, who have taken to social media to express their grief and disbelief.
“I have been speechless and crying, and I couldn’t sleep at all,” wrote her friend Kayshawna Morgane on Facebook. “My heart is broken. Mental health is no joke.”
Another friend, Mich Molina, shared similar sentiments: “I am literally sick to my stomach. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.”
Other friends and family members echoed these emotions, underscoring how the loss of Means and her children has shaken their community.
The incident took place at Luna Island, one of several scenic overlooks on the New York side of Niagara Falls.
This particular area, separated from the main park by a narrow causeway over a river channel, is known for its views but has minimal barriers, with only a chest-high railing separating visitors from the steep fall.
Managed by the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation, Luna Island and the other overlooks within Niagara Falls State Park are accessible 24 hours a day, attracting over 8 million visitors each year.
This tragic event is the latest in a series of recent incidents at Niagara Falls. In 2023, another mother jumped with her young son into the nearby Niagara Gorge.
While she did not survive, her 5-year-old son was rescued by first responders, highlighting both the beauty and the inherent dangers of these scenic but precarious overlooks.
The deaths of Chianti Means and her children underscore the need for mental health awareness and support.
Friends and family members continue to express their sorrow and disbelief, reflecting on the love and kindness they remember in Means and her children.