An adult was killed and at least 21 people injured by gunfire. Police arrested three people and seized firearms during Kansas City Chiefs victory celebrations. The motivations of the shooter(s) remain unknown at this time.
Eight children were among 22 people hit by gunfire in a shooting at the end of Wednesday’s parade to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, authorities said. One of the victims – a mother of two identified as a DJ by her radio station – died.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said three people were arrested in connection with the investigation. Supporters reportedly overpowered one of the suspects by pinning him to the ground.
Police did not immediately release details about who was arrested or a possible motive for the shootings. Stacey Graves said guns were found, but she didn’t know the type. “This is all under active investigation.” she said.
Recurring shootings
This is the latest sports celebration in the United States to end in a shooting, after the one that injured several people last June in downtown Denver, after the Nuggets’ victory in the NBA, in addition to the occurred in a parking lot near the Texas Rangers’ World Series baseball championship parade.
In Kansas City, the shooting occurred outside Union Station despite the presence of more than 800 police officers in and around the building, including on the roofs of nearby buildings, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, who was present with his wife and mother and who had to run for cover when the shooting broke out. “Parades, rallies, schools, movies. It seems that almost nothing is certain”, said the mayor.
Call for gun control
Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence. In 2020, the city was among nine targeted by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat violent crime. In 2023, the city broke a record with 182 homicides, most of which were committed by firearms.
Quinton Lucas has joined mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including mandating background checks.
President Joe Biden, who offered federal aid at the town hall, said the shooting “deeply touches the American soul” and called on the country to pressure Congress to ban assault weapons, limit high-capacity magazines and pass other gun measures that have been defeated by the Republicans.”Today’s events should move us, shock us, shame us and inspire us to act. What are we waiting for?“
Joe Biden noted that the Kansas City shooting occurred six years to the day after the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting, which left 17 dead in 2018.
