The family of a woman and her 4-month-old infant girl has confirmed that both were killed by police during an incident at the Oval Spring Apartments in Independence, Missouri, on Thursday afternoon.

Independence Police Chief Adam Dustman held a press conference Friday, confirming the fatal incident and calling it an “officer-involved shooting.

The incident unfolded near Larkspur Lane and M-291 Frontage Road when officers responded to a 911 call about a domestic disturbance with a potential assault.

When police arrived, they encountered a woman reportedly holding a knife.

According to the police, officers opened fire, resulting in the deaths of the woman and her infant daughter.

Chief Dustman did not specify the cause of death but did confirm that one officer discharged their weapon.

This officer, along with two other responding officers, has been placed on administrative leave, which is standard practice during such investigations.

The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office has stated that it is closely monitoring the independent investigation into the matter, handled by the Police Involved Investigation Team.

Dustman refrained from releasing the identities of the victims or additional details, and he would not confirm the child’s age. However, family members informed the public about the victims’ identities, noting the tragic loss of both mother and child.

Carrie Lufkin, property manager at Oval Spring Apartments, reported that the situation initially began as a domestic violence issue.

She confirmed that both the woman and her child died during the incident, though no officers were injured.

Chief Dustman emphasized that officers acted according to their training and protocol for handling a domestic disturbance involving a weapon.

In his statements, Chief Dustman also urged the community to take measures to protect children from violence and to report any warning signs of potential harm, stressing the importance of safely securing firearms in the home.

He acknowledged the incident’s profound impact on the community and extended condolences to the victims’ family.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the Independence Police Department is coordinating with Jackson County’s independent review team.

The police department and prosecutor’s office have assured the public that they will follow every measure to ensure a transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.