Mum and her two young children die after jumping over Niagara Falls in front of horrified tourists

A mother has died along with her two children after jumping off Niagara Falls on Monday.

Chianti Means, 33, stepped over the safety railing along with her children Roman Rossman, nine, and five-month-old Mecca Means, New York State Police said.

All three fell to their deaths, with their bodies yet to be recovered. Authorities have said the fall was "intentional in nature". However they officials also confirmed that "circumstances remain under investigation".

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Officers have been using unmanned aircraft and underwater means as part of their ongoing investigation.

The mother and her children reportedly stepped over the guardrail at Luna Island, a popular overlook above the falls’ with a nearly 200-foot drop.

Chianti, who worked as a domestic violence counselor according to her LinkedIn profile, is understood to have lived in Niagara Falls.

"Based on the information we have, we do know it was an intentional act, but the reason why is tougher to answer," said New York State Trooper James O'Callaghan.

Tributes from friends appeared on the mum-of-three's Facebook page following the tragic incident. "I can’t even bare to write a post about her and share memories," read a post from Mich Molina. "I am literally sick to my stomach and I can’t even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children."

"You really never know what anybody is going through….RIP," said Niesha Eukeya.

The deaths were just the latest tragedies at the famous landmark in recent years. In 2023, another mother jumped with her son into the Niagara Gorge, just down river from the falls. That mother died in the fall, but rescuers were able to save the five-year-old boy.

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