KANSAS CITY, Mo. (WDAF) — One person has been killed and nearly two dozen people were injured in a shooting in Kansas City where crowds had gathered to celebrate the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory with a parade and rally.
Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed 22 people had been shot, and one victim died after gunfire broke out at the conclusion of the rally. The shooting happened outside of Union Station in the city’s packed downtown area.
Kansas City radio station KKFI later confirmed that DJ Lisa Lopez, a mother of two and host of Taste of Tejano, was killed in the shooting.
“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,” the station wrote on Facebook.
“This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community,” KKFI said in a statement.
Children’s Mercy Hospital said it treated 12 patients. Eleven of those patients were children, and nine of them were being treated for gunshot wounds. The children are between the ages of 6 and 15, said Stephanie Meyer, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Children’s Mercy Hospital. The ages of the other victims were not released.
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 Health also confirmed it had received eight gunshot victims, plus four more with other injuries following the incident. Two of the victims at University Health were in critical condition.
Chief Graves said three people were detained. What prompted the shooting is still under investigation, she said.
The shooting happened near West Pershing and Kessler roads in downtown Kansas City. Reporters with Nexstar’s WDAF said the scene grew chaotic as people ran following the sounds of gunfire. Multiple people could be seen being carried away in stretchers.
Social media users posted shocking video of police running through a crowded scene as people in attendance hurriedly scrambled for cover and ran away. One 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 and tackle someone, holding that person down until two police officers arrived.
About 600 Kansas City officers and 200 from other agencies were working the parade and rally, Mayor Quinton Lucas said.
The mayor said he was also there when gunshots rang out, and he ran for safety.
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People leave the area following a shooting at Union Station during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Several people were shot and two people were detained after a rally celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl victory. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
Law enforcement and medical personnel respond to a shooting at Union Station during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Several people were shot and two people were detained after a rally celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl victory. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
Law enforcement responds to a shooting at Union Station during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Several people were shot and two people were detained after a rally celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl victory. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
First responders tend to an injured person as they bring her out of Union Station near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. Multiple people were injured after gunfire erupted at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday, local police said. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) -
An injured person is aided near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. Shots were reportedly fired during the parade, according to police. (Photo by Andrew CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) -
An injured person is aided by first responders near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. Shots were reportedly fired during the parade, according to police. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) -
First responders tend to an injured person as they bring her out of Union Station near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. Multiple people were injured after gunfire erupted at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday, local police said. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) -
People take cover during a shooting at Union Station during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. Several people were shot and two people were detained after a rally celebrating the Chiefs Super Bowl victory. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
Police officers patrol outside Union Station area after shots were fired near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. Multiple people were injured after gunfire erupted at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday, local police said. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP) (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and the first lady were also 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.”
“I’m angry at what happened today,” said Graves. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.”
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.
“This is absolutely a tragedy the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City, the likes of which we will remember for some time,” Mayor Lucas said.
The Kansas City Chiefs released a statement, saying it was “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,” the statement continued. “We are in close communication with the Mayor’s Office as well as the Kansas City Police Department. At this time, we have confirmed that all of our players, coaches, staff and their families are safe and accounted for. We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”
In a separate message, the NFL said it’s also “deeply saddened” by the shooting.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected,” the NFL’s statement reads. “We are grateful for the quick and thorough response of law enforcement and emergency personnel.”
Wednesday’s shooting is the latest sports celebration in the U.S. marred by gun violence, following a shooting last year in downtown Denver after the Nuggets’ winning an NBA championship that injured several people, and gunfire last year at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers’ World Series championship parade.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Check back for updates.
