KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One person died and 21 more were injured by gunfire, including children, in a shooting after the Kansas City Chiefs parade and rally Wednesday to celebrate their Super Bowl win.
Radio station KFFI 90/1 FM identified the person killed as one of their DJs, Lisa Lopez-Galvan.
In a post on their Facebook page they wrote, “It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez, host of Taste of Tejano lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs’ rally. Our hearts and prayers are with her family.We encourage anyone who feels they saw something to reach out to law enforcement at 816 234 5111. This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community.”
Those injured in the shooting were sent to four Kansas City hospitals for treatment. At least two are in critical condition at University Health Truman Medical Center, where a total of eight gunshot victims are being treated. They are also treating four people for other, non-gunshot injuries.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City Hospital said nine of their pediatric patients had gunshot wounds. They are treating a total of 12 patients, 11 of whom are children.
University of Kansas Medical Center and St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City are both treating one gunshot victim each. St. Luke’s said they have also received a handful of walk-in patients who were injured fleeing the area after shots were fired, but who were not injured by the gunfire.
WATCH: Kansas City police update
The mayor of Kansas City and Police Chief Stacey Graves gave an update on the shooting after the KC Chiefs parade and rally celebrating their Super Bowl win.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said there are three people in custody and that number is believed to include the gunmen, though police said they are still working to determine if all three were involved in the shooting. She also said at least one weapon was recovered.
Graves said it was a shooting made by “a few bad actors” even in the presence of law enforcement, and no terrorism is suspected.
The motive for the shooting is still under investigation. The scene has been cleared and is being held as police collect physical and digital evidence. They are also still working to connect people with their loved ones, Graves said.
Mayor Quinton Lucas said there were 600 Kansas City, Missouri police officers and 250 officers from outside agencies at the parade, which was expected to be attended by at least 1 million people. No Chiefs players, coaches or staff were injured or involved in the shooting.
“This is not Kansas City. I’m angered by what happened,” said Chief Graves. “But I want you to know that the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and all the law enforcement officers that were there today that we’re serving and protecting, did the best they could and I’m so proud of them that they ran into danger. Getting two people into custody, and at the same time rendering life sustaining aid to those victims. We were here for a safe celebration and because of two bad actors or more is why we’re standing here today. We will recover as a city. My heart goes out to our victim who is deceased. But your police department stands ready, and we are invested in the safety and betterment of Kansas City.”
The Chiefs released a statement, saying in part, “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. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all of Kansas City.”
Kansas City police said on X that “child reunification stations” were set up at the main entrance to Union Station, and at 2301 Main St. “We still have several needing reunification,” the tweet read. Police also asked witnesses to the shooting to go to a corner near Union Station.
Kansas City fire officials said one person is dead and nine were injured in a shooting after the Chief Super Bowl victory rally Wednesday.
The White House released a brief statement, saying, “The President has been briefed on the shooting in Kansas City and will continue to receive updates. White House officials have been in touch with state and local leaders, and federal law enforcement is on the scene supporting local law enforcement.” The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms confirmed ATF agents had been at the parade to support KCPD during the celebrations and are now assisting in the investigation into the shooting. The FBI is also working with local law enforcement, and Attorney General Merrick Garland is being apprised of the situation as it continues to develop.
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Multiple people near the parade route were carried away on stretchers shortly after Chiefs fans marked their third Super Bowl title in five seasons.
“All of a sudden, we see people running and we hear gunshots and we take off running. And we look over and there’s a guy next to us on the ground,” witness Jennifer Wilbers told Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC.
Chiefs wide receiver Justin Watson told KMBC that the Chiefs players and their families are safe.
Players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, linebacker Drue Tranquill and guard Trey Smith, are speaking out on social media.
“People started crashing forward, everybody started running, there was screaming,” another woman told KMBC. “We didn’t know what was happening, but in this day and age when people run, you run.”
“We went where an elevator was, we shut the doors and sat back against the doors and we prayed,” she said.
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“There was yelling and we didn’t know if it was safe to leave, so we tried to block the doors. We heard the elevator start to move so we opened the doors and ran out — there were officers there,” she said. “I’ve never been so glad to see an officer in my life.”
Lisa Money of Kansas City, Kansas, was trying to gather some confetti near the end of the parade when she heard somebody yell, “Down, down, everybody down!”
At first Money thought somebody might be joking until she saw the SWAT team jumping over 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 everybody in the city and the surrounding area. and then you’ve got some idiot that wants to come along and do something like this,” she said.
Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But he said 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.
“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the first lady were at the parade when shots were fired but are safe, Parson posted on X.
“State law enforcement personnel are assisting local authorities in response efforts,” Parson posted. “As we wait to learn more, our hearts go out to the victims.”
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members, and the team was on buses and returning to Arrowhead Stadium.
Areas that had been filled with crowds were empty after the shooting, with police and firefighters standing and talking behind an area restricted by yellow tape.
Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory celebration draws massive crowd of elated fans
Throngs had lined the route, with fans climbing trees and street poles, or standing on rooftops for a better view. Players rolled through the crowd on double-decker buses, DJs and drummers heralding their arrival. Owner Clark Hunt was on one of those buses, holding the Lombardi Trophy.
“We are stacking up trophies,” linebacker Drue Tranquill said as he grabbed a reporter’s mic during Wednesday’s festivities to mark the Chiefs’ come-from-behind, 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers.
“Best fans in the world,” exclaimed wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who caught the winning touchdown pass, as he walked along the route, with the players signing jerseys and at least one person’s head.
Key on the minds of many fans is whether pop superstar Taylor Swift would join her boyfriend Travis Kelce for the parade and victory speeches. Swift has not commented. She has a show in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday night, the first of three scheduled concerts on her Eras Tour. She was nowhere to be seen early in the parade.
“I missed last year. I said, ‘I’m not missing this year,’” said longtime fan Charles Smith Sr., who flew from his home in Sicklerville, New Jersey, for the parade.
The city and the team each chipped in around $1 million for the event commemorating 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.
After decades without a championship, the city is gaining experience with victory parades. Five seasons ago, the Chiefs defeated the 49ers for the team’s first Super Bowl championship in 50 years. That followed the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series in 2015, the city’s first baseball championship in 30 years. That year, fans abandoned their cars on the side of the highway so they could walk to the celebration.
Then, last year, the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 and prophetically vowed they would be back for more.
The Associated Press and ABC Owned Television Stations contributed to this report.
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