On Wednesday, February 14th, 2024 one particular person is left lifeless and 21 – others have been wounded by gunfire in a mass taking pictures on the finish of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl parade based on the authorities.
The Tragedy:
3 – people have been detained and are at present underneath investigation says the Kansas Metropolis Police Chief, Stacey Graves, throughout a information press convention final Wednesday night time.
Of among the those who have been wounded by gunfire final Wednesday afternoon, 8 have been in instantly life – threatening situation, 7 have been in life – threatening situation, and 6 had minor accidents based on the Kansas Metropolis Fireplace Chief, Ross Grundyson, who said such throughout the night information media convention.
“I’m offended at what occurred right now,” Police Chief, Graves, defined. “The individuals who got here to this celebration ought to anticipate a secure setting.”
The Dying of a Kansas Metropolis Icon:
The Kansas Metropolis radio station KKFI talked about that certainly one of their DJ’s in Lisa Lopez – Galvan, who was the host of “Style of Tejano,” simply so sadly occurred to have died within the mindless mass taking pictures. It was not instantly properly – outlined whether or not her loss of life was the one which was introduced by authorities on the scene.
“This mindless act has taken a ravishing particular person from her household and this Okay. C. Neighborhood,” The Kansas Metropolis radio station KKFI expressed throughout their heartfelt public assertion.
Lopez – Galvan, whose DJ identify simply so occurred to be, “Lisa G,” was an extrovert, and she or he was a loyal mom of two from a outstanding Latino household within the Kansas Metropolis space, says Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, 2 – childhood pals who labored with Lopez – Galvan at a staffing firm. Izurieta revealed that Lopez – Galvan had attended the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl parade along with her husband in addition to her grownup son.
The Mayor of Kansas Metropolis, Quinton Lucas, alleged that the entire Okay. C. Chiefs gamers, coaches, and different personnel have been secure and all accounted for, which was later confirmed by the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs of their preliminary assertion to the general public.
“We’re really saddened by the mindless act of violence that occurred exterior Union Station on the conclusion of right now’s parade and rally,” says the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs group in a not too long ago launched public assertion. “Our hearts exit to the victims, their households and all of Kansas Metropolis.”
The Hospitals of Kansas Metropolis have been Fairly Busy:
Stephanie Meyer, the chief nursing officer on the Kids’s Mercy of Kansas Metropolis, defined that they have been treating at the very least 12 – sufferers from the parade, together with 11 – kids between the ages of 6 and 15 – years – outdated. That hospital instructed KMBC – TV that 9 of the kids had gunshot wounds based on sources near the incident. Meyer talked about that each one have been anticipated to totally get well except for Lopez – Galvan.
When she was inevitably requested in regards to the situation of the kids, Meyer responded by saying, “Concern. The one phrase I might use to explain what we noticed and the way they got here to us was concern.”
The College Well being spokeswoman in Nancy Lewis reported that the hospital was treating roughly 8 to 9 – gunshot victims. 2 have been in essential situation and 6 have been in steady situation based on her. The hospital additionally was treating 4 – folks for different accidents ensuing from the chaos following the mass taking pictures assault.
St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas Metropolis obtained 1 – gunshot affected person in essential situation in addition to 3 – stroll – ins whose accidents weren’t life – threatening, their spokesperson Laurel Gifford said.
The College of Kansas Well being System obtained at the very least 1 – particular person injured within the tragic mass taking pictures final Wednesday afternoon.
The Nationwide Soccer League additionally launched a press release that disclosed, “We’re deeply saddened by the mindless taking pictures that occurred right now close to the top of the rally in Kansas Metropolis for the Chiefs. Our ideas are with the victims and everybody affected. We’re grateful for the fast and thorough response of legislation enforcement and emergency personnel.”
Social media individuals posted stunning video clips. One particular person’s video confirmed somebody apparently performing chest compressions on a taking pictures sufferer whereas one other particular person, apparently writhing in ache, was laying on the bottom shut by. Some people screamed in agony within the background whereas one other video confirmed 2 – witnesses chase down and heroically sort out a taking pictures suspect as they held down that son of a bitch till 2 – law enforcement officials arrived shortly after.
Graves defined that police have been working arduous to find out whether or not 1 of the three perpetrators have been detained by the courageous soul that tackled the one within the video on-line. Okay. C. Police didn’t straight launch any particulars concerning the people who have been detained or a couple of conceivable motive for the mass taking pictures. Graves thought that the firearms had been recovered within the battle, however he didn’t say what sort of weapons have been used within the assault.
“That is completely a tragedy, the likes of which we by no means would have anticipated in Kansas Metropolis, the likes of which we’ll keep in mind for a while,” Lucas expressed.
Joe Sciara, a 59 – yr – outdated Kansas Metropolis native who was on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl championship title parade together with his household, revealed to ESPN’s Paula Lavigne that the taking pictures began, “instantly after the final speech,”on the rally.
“I noticed folks working in each course. … From the place I used to be standing, my preliminary thought, the sound was such a fast popping sound, it sounded extra to me like firecrackers than a gun,” says Sciara. “So, I wasn’t initially panicked however as a result of everyone began working, we had no selection however to start out working. Once I appeared again, I saved searching for the shooter as a result of I wished to verify we weren’t working towards the shooter. I couldn’t see a shooter. I noticed folks down, a number of folks down, however I couldn’t inform in the event that they have been shot or in the event that they have been trampled. The mass of individuals was arduous to explain.”
Response from the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs Gamers:
A number of gamers of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs took to social media to precise their heartfelt issues for the unfortunate victims following the mass taking pictures.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, posted on Twitter that he’s, “Praying for Kansas Metropolis…,” additionally together with 3 – emojis of arms in prayer.
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs tight finish in Travis Kelce posted: “I’m heartbroken over the tragedy that came about right now. My coronary heart is with all who got here out to have a good time with us and have been affected. Okay. C., you imply the world to me.“
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ linebacker in Drue Tranquill posted on Twitter: “Please be part of me in prayer for all of the victims on this heinous act. Pray that docs and 1st – responders would have regular arms and that each one would expertise full therapeutic.”
The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs offensive lineman, Trey Smith, said, “My ideas and prayers are with everybody affected by right now’s incidents – an enormous thanks to the primary responders who ran in the direction of the sound of hazard. You’re the ones who ought to be celebrated right now.”
Political Statements:
The Governor of Missouri, Mike Parson, and his first girl Teresa Parson have been on the parade when pictures have been fired however they’re reported to be secure.
“State legislation enforcement personnel are helping native authorities in response efforts,” Parson posted on-line. “As we wait to study extra, our hearts exit to the victims.“
The President of america of America, Joe Biden, who only recently briefed on the mass taking pictures incident in Kansas Metropolis, and he obtained thorough updates all through the whole day, talked about that the tragedy, “cuts deep within the American soul,” and Biden referred to as on the folks of congress to ban assault weapons, restrict excessive – capability gun magazines, in addition to act on different gun limits.
“At the moment’s occasions ought to transfer us, shock us, disgrace us into appearing,” Biden goes on to say. “What are we ready for?”
The taking pictures broke the celebratory temper on final Wednesday’s St. Valentine’s Day because the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs followers marked their 3rd – Tremendous Bowl championship title over the course of the previous 5 – NFL seasons.
Areas that had beforehand been crammed with giant crowds of individuals rapidly emptied following the mass taking pictures simply after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ speeches concluded because the Okay. C. police in addition to Okay. C. firefighters have been seen standing and speaking amongst themselves behind a restricted space marked off by the yellow tape.
Final Wednesday’s Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl parade is simply the newest sports activities celebration in america of America to be blemished by gun violence, following a taking pictures that injured at the very least 10 – people final yr in downtown Denver, Colorado following the Denver Nuggets‘ NBA championship, in addition to gunfire flying final yr at a car parking zone near the Texas Rangers‘ World Sequence championship title parade.
