KANSAS CITY, Missouri –
Eight children were among 22 people hit by gunfire in a shooting at the end of Wednesday’s parade celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, authorities said, as terrified fans ran for cover and another high-profile public event. It was marred by firearms. violence. One person died, a mother of two identified by her radio station as a DJ.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves detailed the death toll from the shooting at a news conference and said three people had been detained. She said she heard that fans may have been involved in the arrest of a suspect, but she could not immediately confirm it.
“I’m angry about what happened today. People who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.” Graves said. Police did not immediately release any details about the people detained or a possible motive for the shooting. He said firearms had been recovered, but not what type of weapons were used.
“All of that is being actively investigated,” he said.
It is the latest US sports celebration to be marred by gun violence, following a shooting that injured several people last year in downtown Denver after the Nuggets’ NBA championship, and a shooting last year. passed in a parking lot near the Texas Rangers World Series. championship parade.
Social media users posted a shocking video of police running through a crowded scene as people rushed to seek shelter and flee. One video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim while another person, apparently writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People were screaming in the background.
Another video showed two people chasing and tackling a person, holding them down until two police officers arrived.
Radio station KKFI said in a Facebook post Wednesday night. that Lisa López Galván, host of “Taste of Tejano,” died in the shooting.
“This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from his family and this KC community,” KKFI said in a statement.
López Galván, whose DJ name was “Lisa G,” was an outgoing and devoted mother from a prominent Latino family in the area, said Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramírez, two childhood friends who worked with her at a staffing company. Izurieta said López Galván had attended the parade with her husband and her adult son, a die-hard Kansas City sports fan who was also shot.
“She’s the type of person who would jump in front of a bullet for anyone; that would be Lisa,” Izurieta said.
Law enforcement personnel clear the area around Union Station following a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ NFL football Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Missouri, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Several people were injured, a fire official said. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
The shooting outside Union Station occurred even though more than 800 police officers were in the building and around the area, including on top of nearby buildings, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended with his wife and mother. and had to run for cover when the shots were heard. outside.
“I think that’s something that all of us who are parents, who are normal people who live every day, have to decide what we want to do,” Lucas said. “Parades, rallies, schools, movies. It seems like almost nothing is certain.”
Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence and in 2020 was among nine cities targeted by the U.S. Department of Justice in an effort to combat violent crime. In 2023, the city tied a record with 182 homicides, most of which involved firearms.
Lucas has joined mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including requiring universal background checks.
City resident Lisa Money was trying to collect confetti near the end of the parade when she heard someone shout, “Down, down, everyone down!”
At first, Money thought someone might be joking until he saw the SWAT team jumping the fence.
“I can’t believe it really happened. Who in their right mind would do something like this? This is supposed to be a day of celebration for everyone in and around the city. And then you have some idiot who wants to come and do something.” like this,” he said.
Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people started running. After that initial commotion, calm returned and he didn’t give it much importance. But 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.
“It’s a shame that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we’re in a great city,” Sanders said.
University Health spokeswoman Nancy Lewis said the hospital was caring for eight gunshot victims. Two were in critical condition and six were in stable condition, she said. The hospital was also treating four people for other injuries resulting from the chaos after the shooting, Ella Lewis said.
Lisa Augustine, a spokeswoman for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said the hospital was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children, some of whom suffered gunshot wounds.
St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City received one patient shot in critical condition and three walk-in patients with non-life-threatening injuries, spokeswoman Laurel Gifford said.
“When there are that many victims, they will be spread out among many hospitals so as not to overwhelm any emergency room,” said Jill Jensen Chadwick, news director for the University of Kansas Health System, which received at least one person injured in the shooting.
Law enforcement personnel arrive at Union Station following a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ NFL football Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Missouri, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Several people were injured, an officer said firemen’s. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffman)
Chiefs coach Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members at the time of the shooting, and that the team was on buses returning to Arrowhead Stadium.
“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the team said in a statement.
Missouri Republican Governor Mike Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson were in the parade during the shooting, but were unharmed. “Thanks to the professionalism of our security officers and first responders, Teresa, I and our staff are safe and secure,” Parson said in a statement.
President Joe Biden said the shooting “deeply horrifies the American soul” and called on people to pressure Congress to ban assault weapons, limit high-capacity gun magazines and other gun measures that have been rejected by the Republicans.
“Today’s events should move us, shock us, shame us into action. What are we waiting for?” he said.
Biden noted that Wednesday was the anniversary of the 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people and said there have been more mass shootings in 2024 “than there are days in the year.”
Areas that had been packed with people were left empty after the shooting, with police and firefighters standing and talking behind an area restricted by yellow tape.
Crowds had lined the route earlier, with fans climbing trees and street posts or standing on rooftops to get a better view. Musicians moved through the crowd on double-decker buses, while DJs and drummers announced their arrival. Owner Clark Hunt was on one of the buses, holding the Lombardi Trophy.
The city and the team each contributed about $1 million to the event that commemorates Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs becoming the first team since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots two decades ago to defend their title.
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Associated Press writers Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa; Jim Salter in St. Louis; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Summer Ballentine in Columbia, Missouri; and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.