Community comes together to mourn mother and child killed in police shooting

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (KCTV) – A week after a mother and her two-month-old baby died following a police shooting in Independence, dozens of people stood at an Independence apartment complex holding candles. They sought comfort and strength together.

Thirty-four-year-old Maria Pike and her daughter, Destiny Hope, were murdered last Thursday at the Oval Spring Apartments near MO-291 and 23rd Street.

Friday evening, Destinii’s aunt Felisha Holder looked around as people decorated poster boards with photos and messages in marker.

“It means a lot that the community feels what we feel,” Holder said. “It means the world. It won’t bring her back, but at least we know we have a lot of support here.”

People decorated a poster board with photos and messages in marker during a vigil for a mother and... — People decorated a poster board with photos and messages in marker during a vigil for a mother and child killed after a police shooting.(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)

Real estate manager Carrie Lufkin organized the vigil. She choked up as she addressed the crowd.

“We need to come together as a community and be strong together. And I’m here to support you every second of that,” Lufkin said.

Lufkin had brought teddy bears for the children, hoping they would bring them some comfort. Holder addressed the audience with gratitude, but her anger and outrage were not far away.

“Why? Why would he do that? That’s running through all our minds. Why?” she asked in a pleading tone. “We want justice. We want answers.”

Independence Police were called to the apartments on the afternoon of November 7. Holder said Destinii’s grandmother sought help and reported that Pike was violent. The family thought Maria would be arrested and given help. They said Pike had been diagnosed with postpartum depression.

Destinii Hope and her father.(KCTV5/Betsy Webster)

Police said Pike had a knife and that an officer fired at least one shot, but they haven’t said much else, including whether the mother or child was hit by the gunfire.

Investigators are examining the body camera footage, but it has not been made public.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker attended the vigil to provide support to the family. When asked about the case, she said she understands the pressure on investigators to be quick, but she prefers them to be thorough.