Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl Parade Scarred by Shooting
A shooting after a parade and rally celebrating the most recent Super Bowl win for the Kansas City Chiefs left one person dead and at least 21 injured.
When the shots rang out at around 2 p.m. near Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, roughly 1 million fans began running and trying to find safety in the downtown area.
Prior to the shooting, the fans, mostly decked out in red, had come out to celebrate their NFL champions, trying to see, hear, and celebrate with the team as it made its way down the parade route. “Children were also taking part in large numbers after school districts cancelled classes,” Al Jazeera reported. Ending at Union Station, a rally allowed players and coaches to address the crowd and continue reveling in the recent win.
The shooting, which coincided with the end of the rally, occurred despite an elevated police presence of more than 800 officers, including federal agents, according to statements from Mayor Quinton Lucas. Police Chief Stacey Graves and “other city leaders praised the parade’s security measures and the police response, saying the hundreds of officers already on the scene acted fast and prevented further bloodshed,” according to The Washington Post.
Videos and reports of the event depicted some paradegoers tackling at least one of the suspects until law enforcement could secure the person. Other attendees were seen providing assistance to victims.
Police took three people into custody in connection with the shooting, and also recovered firearms. Two of the three suspects are juveniles, according to CNN. Neither the names of those in custody nor a motive for the shooting have been disclosed yet, although Graves and other law enforcement officials told CNN that the shooting might have resulted from a personal dispute between several people. The investigation is ongoing, and seven other people are reported to have been questioned in connection with the shooting.
Emergency responders also helped those injured outside of the historic building. Those injured, including 11 children between ages six and 15, were taken to hospitals to receive medical treatment. “Eight of the 21 injured had immediately life-threatening injuries and seven others had life-threatening injuries, Kansas City interim fire chief Ross Grundyson told reporters,” according to the Post. Children’s Mercy Hospital, which received the injured minors, said all 11 children are expected to recover.
The person killed was identified as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a radio DJ for Kansas City radio station KKFI, wife, and mother to two. “Lopez-Galvan is reported to have died during surgery from a gunshot wound to her abdomen,” according to The Kansas City Star.
Although some victims were initially separated from their families when they were taken to a hospital, they were later reunited, according to the Star.
“Missouri experiences one of the highest rates of gun deaths, gun homicide rates, and household firearm ownership,” according to gun-safety advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety.
Lucas has also joined other mayors in calls for laws that would reduce gun violence, according to the Associated Press.
While some teammates from the Chiefs issued messages of praise for first responders and support for victims of the shooting, at least one questioned the local existing gun laws. The shooting occurred while platers were still on the stage, but no one on the team—including players, coaches, staff, and family—was injured.
Kansas City now joins a fraternity of other cities where celebrations meant to mark national athletic achievements were instead marred by active shooters and violence, ranging from Toronto to Texas.
