Niagara Falls, NY—A mother and her two young children tragically died after reportedly leaping from Niagara Falls on Monday, according to New York State Police. Authorities identified the woman as 33-year-old Chianti Means and her children as nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means.
A family is reported to have crossed the safety railing on Luna Island, a small island located between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, which is a popular tourist destination. According to police, the incident is being treated as intentional, although the exact circumstances are still under investigation. Efforts to recover the bodies are ongoing, with police utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles and underwater resources in their search.
In another message on the same day, she advised, “You have to hold on to the ones you love. You never know when you might lose them.”
Chaianti, who worked as a domestic violence counsellor, reportedly lived in Niagara Falls. In the wake of the tragedy, friends took to social media to pay tribute to the mother of three. Friend Mich Molina expressed heartbreak on Facebook, writing, “I can’t even bear to write a post about her and share memories. I am sick to my stomach and can’t even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.” Another friend, Niesha Eukeya, commented, “You never know what anybody is going through… RIP.”
This tragedy comes in the wake of a similar incident in 2021 when a 19-year-old college student, Saniyya Dennis, reportedly took her own life by jumping from Niagara Falls following a breakup. Erie County District Attorney John Flynn recounted that Dennis, after a heated argument with her boyfriend, sent him a message saying, “I think I am going to kill myself,” and later attempted to call him 66 times on the night of her disappearance.
Police continue their investigation into this week’s incident as the community mourns the loss of the family.