A New York mother has died after jumping off Niagara Falls with her two young children, including a 5-month-old baby, authorities confirmed.
Chianti Means, 33, stepped over the guardrail at Luna Island, a popular viewing area with a nearly 200-foot drop, on Monday night, according to the New York State Police. Emergency responders were called around 9 p.m., and investigators believe the plunge was intentional. The circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation.
Means and her children—9-year-old Roman Rossman and baby Mecca Means—were residents of Niagara Falls. As of Wednesday, rescuers had not yet located any of the bodies.
Means worked as a domestic violence counselor and graduated from school in nearby Buffalo, according to her LinkedIn profile. Friends quickly took to social media to pay tribute to her.
“I have been speechless and crying and couldn’t sleep at all,” wrote friend Kayshawna Morgane on Facebook. “My heart is broken. Mental health is no joke.”
Another friend, Mich Molina, expressed her grief, stating, “I can’t even bear to write a post about her and share memories. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.”
“You really never know what anybody is going through,” added friend Niesha Eukeya.
Luna Island is one of several overlooks on the New York side of Niagara Falls. It is somewhat secluded, separated from the rest of Niagara Falls State Park by a causeway over a river channel. A chest-high railing is the only barrier between the platform and the dangerous drop.
The area is managed by the New York State Office of Parks and Recreation, which keeps it open to visitors 24 hours a day. More than 8 million people visit the park each year.
This incident adds to a series of tragedies at Niagara Falls in recent years. In 2023, another mother jumped into the Niagara Gorge with her son. The mother died in the fall, but rescuers were able to save the five-year-old boy.
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