Following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade in Kansas City, gunshots struck 22 people, killing one and injuring eight children

Authorities claimed that at the conclusion of Wednesday’s parade honoring the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, bullets struck 22 people, including eight children. Terrified spectators fled for safety, and yet another prominent public gathering was tainted by gun violence. A DJ was among those who perished, according to her radio station.

At a press conference, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves listed the casualties of the shooting and said that three persons had been taken into custody. Although she was unable to verify it right away, she said that she had heard rumors that fans may have assisted in capturing a suspect.

“I’m upset about what transpired today. Visitors to this festival should anticipate a secure atmosphere. stated Graves. No information on the individuals detained or the potential reason for the gunshots was immediately disclosed by the police. She said that guns had been found, but she did not specify the kind of weaponry.

A lot of work is ahead. We’re just getting started,” she said. “Everything is under active investigation.”

After gunshots in a parking lot close to the Texas Rangers’ World Series victory parade last year and a shooting that left many people wounded in downtown Denver after the Nuggets’ NBA title, this is the most recent sporting event in the United States to be marred by gun violence.

Social media users shared graphic footage of cops rushing through a packed area as others hastily ran for safety. In one video, a person was shown presumably doing chest compressions to a victim with gunshot wounds as another person lay close, seeming to be in agony. The sound of screams was backdrop.

In a another video, two individuals are seen pursuing and tackling a victim before keeping them down until two police officers turn there.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, radio station KKFI announced that DJ Lisa Lopez, the presenter of “Taste of Tejano,” had died in the shooting.

KKFI released a statement saying, “This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community.”

Mayor Quinton Lucas, who visited the scene with his wife and mother and had to flee for their lives as gunshots broke out, said that the shooting outside Union Station occurred in spite of the more than 800 police officers present in the building and surrounding area, including atop adjoining buildings.

As parents and everyday people, Lucas said, “I think that’s something that all of us have to decide what we wish to do about.” “movies, schools, parades, and rallies. Almost nothing seemed to be secure.

In an attempt to combat violent crime, the U.S. Justice Department singled out nine towns in 2020, including Kansas City, which has historically plagued with gun violence. With 182 murders in 2023, the city tied a record, with the majority using firearms.

Along with mayors throughout the nation, Lucas is advocating for new legislation to curb gun violence, such as requiring background checks for all purchases.

Lisa Money, a city dweller, heard someone cry, “Down, down, everybody down!” as she was attempting to grab some confetti close to the parade’s conclusion.

When Money initially saw the SWAT squad leaping over the fence, she thought maybe someone was kidding.

It’s unbelievable that it really occurred. Who would do anything like this in a rational mind? It is everyone’s intention for the city and the neighboring areas to celebrate this day. and then there’s this moron who wants to show here and do something similar,” she said.

People began fleeing, according to 53-year-old Kevin Sanders of Lenexa, Kansas, who claimed he heard what sounded like firecrackers. He didn’t give it much thought when calmness restored after that first flurry. But ambulances began to arrive ten minutes later.

Sanders said, “It’s unfortunate that someone had to spoil the celebration, but this is a big city.”

According to Nancy Lewis, a spokeswoman for University Health, the hospital was tending to eight gunshot patients. According to her, six people were in stable condition and two were in serious condition. According to Lewis, four more patients were being treated at the hospital for injuries sustained during the mayhem that followed the shooting.

Children’s Mercy Kansas City spokeswoman Lisa Augustine said that the facility was caring for 12 patients from the demonstration, including 11 kids who had possibly been shot.

According to spokesman Laurel Gifford, St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City had three walk-in patients with non-life-threatening injuries and one critically injured gunshot patient.

“With this many casualties, it will be distributed among several hospitals to prevent overcrowding in any one emergency room,” the spokesperson said.

At the time of the shooting, according to Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder, he was at Arrowhead Stadium with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members. The squad was riding busses back to Arrowhead Stadium.

The team released a statement saying, “We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally.”

Republican governor of Missouri Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson were not injured in the gunshots, although they were at the procession. Teresa and I, as well as our staff, are safe and secure, Parson stated in a statement, “thanks to the professionalism of our security officers and first responders.”

According to a White House official, President Joe Biden was informed about the incident and will get updates going forward. White House officials were in contact with state and municipal authorities, and federal law enforcement was on the scene helping their local counterparts.

After the shooting, sections that had been crowded with people were deserted, and police and firemen could be seen standing and conversing behind a section of yellow tape.

Before, large crowds had gathered along the route, with spectators scaling street poles and trees or standing on roofs to get a closer look. Double-decker bus players moved through the throng, accompanied by drummers and DJs to announce their presence. On one of the vans was owner Clark Hunt, clutching the Lombardi Trophy.

For the celebration honoring Travis Kelce, Mahomes, and the Chiefs being the first team since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots two decades ago to defend their championship, the city and the team each contributed around $1 million.

The city is more used to triumph parades after several years without a title. The Chiefs won their first Super Bowl triumph in fifty years five seasons ago after defeating the 49ers. That came after the World Series victory in 2015 by the Kansas City Royals, the team’s first baseball title in thirty years.

The Chiefs then beat the Philadelphia Eagles 38–35 the previous season and made a prophecy that they would return for more.