One person is dead and at least 22 hospitalized — including several children — as a result of a mass shooting near Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday late in the Kansas City Chiefs‘ celebratory Super Bowl parade.
Kansas City police confirmed the loss of life, and late Wednesday evening, radio station KKFI posted on Facebook that DJ Lisa Lopez, host of Taste of Tejano, was the person killed in the shooting.
Three people were subsequently taken into custody and are under investigation. No Chiefs players, coaches, or staff were struck.
“There’s a lot of work ahead. This is just the beginning stages,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said. “All of that is being actively investigated.”
LATEST: Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves says 22 people suffered gunshot wounds in the shooting that followed the Chiefs Super Bowl parade. Graves confirmed one of those victims has died. https://t.co/9XdeBgFYZD pic.twitter.com/DuQFGA5H1w
— ABC News (@ABC) February 14, 2024
Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH) confirmed it is treating 12 victims, 11 of whom are children, per PJ Green of Fox4KC. Nine of the 11 injured children have gunshot wounds. Shortly after 7:30 p.m. ET, a spokeswoman at CMH told Fox4KC that none of the children at Children’s Mercy Hospital were in critical condition, and that all patients treated are expected to make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, University Health Truman Medical Center said it is treating eight victims with gunshots, two of whom are in critical condition, according to KCTV5.
“I’m angry at what happened today. The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.” Graves said.
An on-site video from Jacob Meikel of News-Press Now showed chaos as law enforcement and military personnel stormed Union Station.
Chaos has broken out at the end of the Chiefs Super Bowl parade. Police and military personnel just took off inside of Union Station pic.twitter.com/mqNeodS9r5
— Jacob Meikel (@NPNOWMeikel) February 14, 2024
NFL Network’s James Palmer reported he was initially told to get under the stage at the Chiefs’ parade before being escorted out of Union Station. Palmer has since indicated that his crew is safe.
As indicated on a Super Bowl parade route map, Union Station was the final destination on today’s celebratory tour.
Kansas City police asked witnesses to the shooting to convene at the corner of Pershing and Main. Meanwhile, officials had set up a child reunification station inside the main entrance of Union Station.
Chiefs head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder indicated on social media that he and his wife had left the scene on a bus along with Kansas City head coach Andy Reid and his family. All Chiefs staff and players have been accounted for.
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes said on X that he was “Praying for Kansas City…”
Later in the evening, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said on X, “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.”
In a statement, the Chiefs organization said it is “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.”
“This is not Kansas City,” Graves said at the end of her press conference on Wednesday. “We were here for a safe celebration.”
Wednesday’s shooting came on the sixth anniversary of another tragedy, the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which claimed 17 lives and injured 17 others.
Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head in an attempted assassination attempt in Jan. 2011, offered a statement on Wednesday, via ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
“In Kansas City today, a celebration has turned into a nightmare — again. Americans should not have to live in constant fear of gun violence: not a Super Bowl victory parade, or anywhere else,” Giffords said.
“As we mark six years since the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, another community has to face that trauma. My heart goes out to Kansas City. We’re with you, and we will never stop fighting to end gun violence.”