On Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 one person is left dead and 21 – others were wounded by gunfire in a mass shooting at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade according to the authorities.
The Tragedy:
3 – individuals have been detained and are currently under investigation says the Kansas City Police Chief, Stacey Graves, during a news press conference last Wednesday night.
Of some of the people that were wounded by gunfire last Wednesday afternoon, 8 were in immediately life – threatening condition, 7 were in life – threatening condition, and 6 had minor injuries according to the Kansas City Fire Chief, Ross Grundyson, who stated such during the evening news media conference.
“I’m angry at what happened today,” Police Chief, Graves, explained. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.”
The Death of a Kansas City Icon:
The Kansas City radio station KKFI mentioned that one of their DJ’s in Lisa Lopez – Galvan, who was the host of “Taste of Tejano,” just so unfortunately happened to have died in the senseless mass shooting. It was not immediately well – defined whether her death was the one that was announced by authorities on the scene.
“This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this K. C. Community,” The Kansas City radio station KKFI expressed during their heartfelt public statement.
Lopez – Galvan, whose DJ name just so happened to be, “Lisa G,” was an extrovert, and she was a devoted mother of 2 from a prominent Latino family in the Kansas City area, says Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, 2 – childhood friends who worked with Lopez – Galvan at a staffing company. Izurieta revealed that Lopez – Galvan had attended the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade with her husband as well as her adult son.
The Mayor of Kansas City, Quinton Lucas, alleged that all of the K. C. Chiefs players, coaches, and other personnel were safe and all accounted for, which was later confirmed by the Kansas City Chiefs in their initial statement to the public.
“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” says the Kansas City Chiefs organization in a recently released public statement. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all of Kansas City.”
The Hospitals of Kansas City were Quite Busy:
Stephanie Meyer, the chief nursing officer at the Children’s Mercy of Kansas City, explained that they were treating at least 12 – patients from the parade, including 11 – children between the ages of 6 and 15 – years – old. That hospital told KMBC – TV that 9 of the children had gunshot wounds according to sources close to the incident. Meyer mentioned that all were expected to fully recover aside from Lopez – Galvan.
When she was inevitably asked about the condition of the children, Meyer responded by saying, “Fear.The one word I would use to describe what we saw and how they came to us was fear.”
The University Health spokeswoman in Nancy Lewis reported that the hospital was treating approximately 8 to 9 – gunshot victims. 2 were in critical condition and 6 were in stable condition according to her. The hospital also was treating 4 – people for other injuries resulting from the chaos following the mass shooting attack.
St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received 1 – gunshot patient in critical condition as well as 3 – walk – ins whose injuries were not life – threatening, their spokesperson Laurel Gifford stated.
The University of Kansas Health System received at least 1 – person injured in the tragic mass shooting last Wednesday afternoon.
The National Football League also released a statement that disclosed, “We are deeply saddened by the senseless shooting that occurred today near the end of the rally in Kansas City for the Chiefs. Our thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected. We are grateful for the quick and thorough response of law enforcement and emergency personnel.”
Social media participants posted shocking video clips. One person’s video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim while another person, apparently writhing in pain, was laying on the ground close by. Some individuals screamed in agony in the background while another video showed 2 – witnesses chase down and heroically tackle a shooting suspect as they held down that son of a bitch until 2 – police officers arrived shortly after.
Graves explained that police were working hard to determine whether 1 of the 3 perpetrators have been detained by the brave soul that tackled the one in the video online. K. C. Police did not directly release any details regarding the individuals who were detained or about a conceivable motive for the mass shooting. Graves thought that the firearms had been recovered in the struggle, but he did not say what kind of weapons were used in the attack.
“This is absolutely a tragedy, the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City, the likes of which we’ll remember for some time,” Lucas expressed.
Joe Sciara, a 59 – year – old Kansas City native who was at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl championship title parade with his family, revealed to ESPN’s Paula Lavigne that the shooting started, “immediately after the last speech,”at the rally.
“I saw people running in every direction. … From where I was standing, my initial thought, the sound was such a rapid popping sound, it sounded more to me like firecrackers than a gun,” says Sciara. “So, I wasn’t initially panicked but because everybody started running, we had no choice but to start running. When I looked back, I kept looking for the shooter because I wanted to make sure we weren’t running toward the shooter. I couldn’t see a shooter. I saw people down, several people down, but I couldn’t tell if they were shot or if they were trampled. The mass of people was hard to describe.”
Response from the Kansas City Chiefs Players:
Multiple players of the Kansas City Chiefs took to social media to express their heartfelt concerns for the unlucky victims following the mass shooting.
The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, posted on Twitter that he is, “Praying for Kansas City…,” also including 3 – emojis of hands in prayer.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end in Travis Kelce posted: “I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. K. C., you mean the world to me.“
Kansas City Chiefs’ linebacker in Drue Tranquill posted on Twitter: “Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act. Pray that doctors and 1st – responders would have steady hands and that all would experience full healing.”
The Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman, Trey Smith, stated, “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by today’s incidents – a huge thank you to the first responders who ran towards the sound of danger. You are the ones who should be celebrated today.”
Political Statements:
The Governor of Missouri, Mike Parson, and his first lady Teresa Parson were at the parade when shots were fired but they are reported to be safe.
“State law enforcement personnel are assisting local authorities in response efforts,” Parson posted online. “As we wait to learn more, our hearts go out to the victims.“
The President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, who just recently briefed on the mass shooting incident in Kansas City, and he received thorough updates throughout the entire day, mentioned that the tragedy, “cuts deep in the American soul,” and Biden called on the people of congress to ban assault weapons, limit high – capacity gun magazines, as well as act on other gun limits.
“Today’s events should move us, shock us, shame us into acting,” Biden goes on to say. “What are we waiting for?”
The shooting broke the celebratory mood on last Wednesday’s St. Valentine’s Day as the Kansas City Chiefs fans marked their 3rd – Super Bowl championship title over the course of the past 5 – NFL seasons.
Areas that had previously been filled with large crowds of people quickly emptied following the mass shooting just after the Kansas City Chiefs’ speeches concluded as the K. C. police as well as K. C. firefighters were seen standing and talking amongst themselves behind a restricted area marked off by the yellow tape.
Last Wednesday’s Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade is just the latest sports celebration in the United States of America to be blemished by gun violence, following a shooting that injured at least 10 – individuals last year in downtown Denver, Colorado following the Denver Nuggets‘ NBA championship, as well as gunfire flying last year at a parking lot close to the Texas Rangers‘ World Series championship title parade.