A celebration turned tragic on Wednesday when a shooting near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade left one person dead and at least 21 others injured, including 12 children.
The incident occurred west of Union Station, outside near the garage, as fans were leaving the rally.
According to Kansas City police, three suspects have been detained for investigation and one firearm has been recovered. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, while they speculate a dispute as the cause of the shooting.
Among the victims was Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local Tejano music DJ and mother of two, who hosted a show on KKFI 90.1 FM. The station confirmed her death in a statement, saying they were “saddened by the senseless act of violence” and expressing their condolences to her family and the community.
The Kansas City Fire Department said eight victims had “immediately” life-threatening injuries, seven had life-threatening injuries and six had minor injuries. Children’s Mercy Hospital said it treated 12 patients from the rally, ranging in age from 6 to 15 years old, nine of whom had gunshot wounds. All are expected to make a full recovery.
The Chiefs also released a statement, saying they were in close communication with the mayor’s office and the police department, and that all of their players, coaches, staff and their families were safe and accounted for. They thanked the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on the scene to assist.
The shooting marred what was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the city, as the Chiefs celebrated their first Super Bowl title in 50 years with a parade and a rally attended by hundreds of thousands of fans.
The team’s star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, addressed the crowd at the rally, saying “We brought the trophy home.”
