INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Driving to Oval Spring Apartments in Independence provides mental health resources for residents after a shooting the police November 7 at the complex caused the death of two people, including a child.

“Even today, the energy today is just kind of weird,” said Gavin Delaney, assistant property manager. “It’s a tragedy, that’s the bottom line. Nobody wanted this to happen.”

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Carrie Lufkin is the property manager at the apartments and Delaney’s boss.

KSHB 41’s Alyssa Jackson spoke to her on Thursday, the day the incident occurred.

She and Delaney were both working Thursday.

Dale Messing/KSHB 41

“I think it’s even harder to be right outside and have no idea what happened,” he said.

Delaney says he was in the apartment to help defuse the situation before and after police arrived.

Despite his closeness to the incident, there are still lingering questions.

“I was really shocked at how quickly things turned around,” Delaney said. “It was really chaotic, you know. There were probably 20 police cars pulled up at one time and nobody really knows what’s going on.”

It was a long weekend for Lufkin and Delaney, so they can only imagine how hard it was for the residents.

“I think it’s very important that we provide as much support as possible to our community, our residents and the children who have all been affected by this,” Lufkin said. “This whole situation resulted from mental health, people who were not mentally healthy.”

That’s why she helped lead efforts to provide mental health resources for tenants living at the complex. On Monday, specialists from Comprehensive Mental Health Services in Independence were at the complex.

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“I’m here to provide support, to allow individuals to talk about what they’ve experienced, how they’re feeling,” said Julie Pratt, regional president and CEO of Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Inc., in the Kansas City region .

Pratt said there was a dispatcher from Comprehensive Mental Health at the complex Thursday, but that person did not enter the apartment or become involved in the situation.

The correspondent’s role was to provide help and support alongside the officers.

Pratt says they’ve had a relationship with the Independence Police Department and other departments to provide correspondent mental health services for years.

Specialists who were at Oval Spring on Monday will return to the complex on Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm.

“Just talking helps,” Delaney said.

He and Lufkin share a philosophy.

“It’s not just a job for us,” Lufkin said. “It’s these people’s homes, it’s their children, it’s their lives.”

A spokesperson for the Independence Police Department offered this response Monday: “The incident is still under investigation with the Eastern Jackson County Sheriff’s Investigation Team. We will release more information as we can.”

Comprehensive Mental Health Services also offered this statement on Monday: “We are working with our emergency response allies to identify where our team members can best help those affected by an officer-involved shooting in Independence, knowing that each person will process the trauma they feel in different ways. Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) and parent company Brightli encourage anyone experiencing a mental health crisis to seek help. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can call CMHS at (816) 254-3652 or call or text 988, which is available 24/7 and provides quick access to safe and confidential support from trained professionals. Behavioral health crisis support is available for any reason, at any time. Comprehensive Mental Health Services’ Behavioral Crisis Center is open to anyone age 18 and older who is experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. It is open 24 hours a day at 17421 Medical Center Parkway in Independence. No appointment required. More information is available at (thecmhs.com).”

Lufkin is also holding a vigil to honor the child’s life at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at the complex, 16704 Larkspur Lane in Independence.
The vigil will take place in front of the building where the incident took place.

She said in a Facebook post that people are welcome to bring balloons and candles, and the apartment complex will provide balloons and candles for those who don’t have them. They will release purple and white balloons.

Property management can be reached at 816-281-6479.