Authorities stated on Wednesday that a shooting occurred during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl triumph parade in Kansas City, Missouri, leaving at least one person dead and 22 others wounded.
At a press conference, Stacey Graves, the head of the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department, gave an account of the number of individuals shot and stated that three had been taken into custody. She went on to say that although she couldn’t immediately confirm it, fans could have assisted in the capture of a suspect.
“I’m upset about what transpired today. “Those who attended this celebration ought to have anticipated a secure atmosphere,” stated Graves.
Police did not immediately release any details about the people taken into custody or about a possible motive for the shootings. She said firearms had been recovered, but not what kind of weapons were used.
“All of that is being actively investigated,” she said, adding that more than 800 law enforcement officers were at the scene to keep people safe.
“Shots have been fired around Union Station. Please leave the area,” the Kansas City Police Department said on X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, who had been evacuated from the rally site, posted on X that she encouraged everyone to follow instructions and updates from the police, local media reported
Nancy Lewis, a spokesman for University Health, reported that eight victims with gunshot wounds were receiving hospital care. According to her, six were in stable condition and two were in serious condition. According to Lewis, four more patients were being treated at the hospital for injuries sustained during the mayhem that followed the shooting.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City spokesman Lisa Augustine reported that the hospital was caring for 12 patients from the event, including 11 children who had been shot.
Following the tragic incident, the Kansas City Chiefs declared that every one of its employees, coaches, players, and family members was “safe and accounted for”.
The Chiefs released a statement saying, “We are deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence that took place outside of Union Station at the end of today’s parade and rally.” “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all of Kansas City.”
During the firing, Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his spouse Teresa Parson were present at the march, but they escaped unharmed. “Thanks to the professionalism of our security officers and first responders, Teresa and I and our staff are safe and secure,” Parson stated in a statement.
A spokesman for the White House said that President Joe Biden was informed about the shooting and will get updates going forward.
Federal law enforcement was on the scene working with their local counterparts, and White House officials were in communication with state and local authorities.
After getting in touch with the Kansas City Police Department, the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago verified that no Chinese nationals were harmed or killed during the incident.
In the United States, where there are more firearms than people, mass shootings are frequent.
On Wednesday, there were other incidents that made national news aside from the shooting in Kansas City. Three police officers were shot during a standoff in the nation’s capital, Washington, earlier, while four kids were wounded outside a high school in Atlanta.
The Gun Violence Archive website reports that there were 656 mass shootings in the US last year, and gun violence was the cause of 18,854 fatalities.
According to the database, there have been 49 mass shootings in the US so far in 2024, and gun violence has claimed 1,957 lives.
