KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One person is dead, and 21 others were wounded by gunfire in a mass shooting at the end of the Chiefs‘ Super Bowl parade Wednesday, according to authorities.
Three people have been detained and are under investigation, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said during a news conference Wednesday evening.
Of the people wounded by gunfire, eight were in immediately life-threatening condition, seven were in life-threatening condition and six had minor injuries, Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said at the news conference.
“I’m angry at what happened today,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.”
Kansas City radio station KKFI said one of its DJs, Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was the host of “Taste of Tejano,” died in the shooting. It was not immediately clear whether her death was the one announced by authorities.
“This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community,” the station said in a statement.
Lopez-Galvan, whose DJ name was “Lisa G,” was an extrovert and devoted mother of two from a prominent Latino family in the area, said Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, two childhood friends who worked with her at a staffing company. Izurieta said Lopez-Galvan had attended the parade with her husband and adult son, a Kansas City sports fan who also was shot.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said all the Chiefs players, coaches and staff were safe and accounted for, which was later confirmed by the team in a statement.
“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 the statement. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all of Kansas City.”
Stephanie Meyer, chief nursing officer for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said it was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children between the ages of 6 and 15. The hospital told KMBC-TV that nine of the children had gunshot wounds. Meyer said all were expected to recover.
When asked about the condition of the children, Meyer responded: “Fear. The one word I would use to describe what we saw and how they came to us was fear.”
University Health spokeswoman Nancy Lewis said the hospital was treating eight gunshot victims. Two were in critical condition and six were in stable condition, she said. The hospital also was treating four people for other injuries resulting from the chaos after the shooting, Lewis said.
St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City received one gunshot patient in critical condition and three walk-ins with injuries that were not life-threatening, spokesperson Laurel Gifford said.
University of Kansas Health System received at least one person injured in the shooting.
The NFL said in a statement, “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 users posted shocking video. One user’s video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background. Another video showed two onlookers chase down and tackle someone, holding that person down until two police officers arrived.
Graves said police were working to determine whether one of the three people who have been detained was the person tackled in the video. Police did not immediately release any details about the people who were detained or about a possible motive for the shootings. Graves said firearms had been recovered, but not what kind of weapons were used.
“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 said.
Joe Sciara, a 59-year-old Kansas City native who was at the parade with his family, told 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,” Sciara said. “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.”
Multiple Chiefs players took to social media to express their concern for the victims after the shooting.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted on X, “Praying for Kansas City…,” also including three emojis of hands in prayer.
Tight end Travis Kelce posted as well, writing: “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. KC, you mean the world to me.”
Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill posted on X, “Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act. Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing.”
Offensive lineman Trey Smith wrote, “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’re the ones who should be celebrated today.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson 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.”
President Joe Biden, who was briefed on the shooting and received updates throughout the day, said the tragedy “cuts deep in the American soul” and called on people to press Congress to ban assault weapons, limit high-capacity gun magazines and act on other gun measures.
“Today’s events should move us, shock us, shame us into acting,” Biden said. “What are we waiting for?”
The shooting broke the celebratory mood on Valentine’s Day as Chiefs fans marked their third Super Bowl title in five seasons.
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.
Wednesday’s parade is the latest sports celebration in the U.S. to be marred by gun violence, following a shooting that injured at least 10 people last year in downtown Denver after the Nuggets‘ NBA championship, and gunfire last year at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers‘ World Series championship parade.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.