Crime
33-year-old Chianti Means Jumps to Her Death at Niagara Falls Along With Her 9-Year-Old and 5-Month Baby
A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded at Niagara Falls State Park on October 28th, 2024, when a 33-year-old woman, Chianti Means, and her two young children, 9-year-old Roman Rossman and 5-month-old Mecca Means, fell to their deaths.
The family bypassed safety barriers and entered a restricted area on Goat Island.
Despite extensive security measures in place at the park, the family managed to access the dangerous area.
New York State Park Police are investigating the incident and have determined that the deaths were intentional.
However, the specific motivations behind the tragic act remain unclear.
Under the pseudonym Chianti Means, Means expressed feelings of loneliness, frustration, and a desire for love and family. Her posts revealed a troubled mind, with references to past relationships and a longing for connection.
The exact circumstances leading to the tragic incident are still under investigation. However, the social media posts offer a glimpse into the emotional turmoil that may have contributed to her decision.
This is Chianti’s husband, Jeff Wit, and according to sources close to the family, he was reportedly told to do something extreme, like jumping from Niagara Falls.
The incident has raised serious concerns about safety protocols at the park and the need for increased vigilance to prevent future tragedies.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.