Mom, baby shot dead after she charges at cop with huge knife: distressing video

Chilling body camera footage captures a Missouri mom holding her baby as she lunges with a huge kitchen knife at cops who then shoot them both dead.The newly released footage shows officers — called to a reported family assault — initially talking calmly to mom Maria Pike, 34, as she holds her 2-month-old daughter Destinii Hope while standing inside a closet at her home in Independence.Although the body cam footage shows very few words exchanged, the officers repeatedly asked the visibly upset mom to put down her baby, the Independence Police Department (IDP) said.“The repeated attempts failed, and she exited the closet, walked past the officers, and sat on the bed next to the nightstand,” the department stated.Pike’s husband — who is Destinii’s father — is seen sitting shirtless on the bed as officers continue to talk to the mom, who is still clutching her baby.Eleven minutes into the footage, Pike can be seen suddenly grabbing a large knife from a bedside table and lunging toward an officer.“Woah!” gasps a male cop she initially threatens, before the mom turns to the officer whose camera caught the horror, holding the knife over her head — with her baby still in front of her.“She retrieved the concealed large kitchen-style knife and charged at officers, while still holding the child,” the police department wrote.“As a result, one officer fired at the female and both she and the infant sustained fatal injuries.” Police have not identified the officer responsible in the fatal shooting, nor have they shared any details about what happened after the video freezes.

The three officers involved have since been placed on administrative leave.“The Independence Police Department has been and will continue to be as transparent as legally permitted,” the department said.

“IPD fully understands the demand surrounding the events of that day and we will continue to fully cooperate with the outside investigation being conducted by the Police ...