A parade in america to rejoice the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl victory has been interrupted by gunfire, with native police declaring that one particular person has been killed and others critically injured.
At a press conference within the hours after the taking pictures, Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed the dying, although she underscored that her division remains to be gathering info on the “quantity and standing of victims”. She estimated that there have been 10 to fifteen individuals injured.
“On the conclusion of the Chiefs rally at the moment, there have been photographs fired on the west facet of Union Station,” Graves defined, referring to a historic practice station in central Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
“Instantly, officers responded to the realm, took two individuals into custody and in addition instantly rendered life-assisting assist to these victims.”
She added that the investigation remains to be lively and extra updates had been forthcoming: “We nonetheless have events which can be strolling into hospitals.”
Kansas Metropolis Mayor Quinton Lucas additionally spoke on the press convention, reminding the general public that “it is a fluid state of affairs, so all that we’re sharing now could change because the hours go forward”.
“That is completely a tragedy, the likes of which we might have by no means anticipated in Kansas Metropolis and the likes of which we are going to bear in mind for a while,” Lucas mentioned. He defined that he himself had been compelled to flee when the photographs erupted.
“I’m extremely upset, disillusioned. I used to be there with my spouse, I used to be there with my mom. We by no means would have thought that we — together with Chiefs gamers, together with followers, lots of of 1000’s of individuals — could be compelled to run for our security at the moment.”
As information of the taking pictures broke, 1000’s of revellers had been informed to evacuate the downtown celebration space, the place followers and American soccer gamers had gathered.
“Anybody close by wants to depart the realm as rapidly and safely as potential to facilitate therapy of the taking pictures victims,” the police division for Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, mentioned in a social media publish.
Earlier than the taking pictures, the day was certainly one of jubilation, as Kansas Metropolis residents lined the streets to cheer on the Chiefs, an American soccer staff, after their second victory in a row on the annual Tremendous Bowl.
The occasion is the fruits of the Nationwide Soccer League’s playoff season and leads to one staff strolling away with the coveted Vince Lombardi Trophy.
At Sunday’s Tremendous Bowl recreation, the Chiefs got here from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers in a squeaker of a recreation that was in the end determined in time beyond regulation.
For Wednesday’s hometown celebrations, followers and native celebrities crammed the centre of Kansas Metropolis, the place cannons fired confetti and DJs performed music. The gamers themselves piled into double-decker buses to steer the parade and wave to followers.
LET’S DO THIS THING!!! pic.twitter.com/DgqRnDBsph
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 14, 2024
Nonetheless, that temper of celebration rapidly changed into worry, with cops speeding in the direction of the realm the place the taking pictures occurred with their weapons drawn and ambulances rapidly arriving.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly was on the scene and described what she skilled on social media afterwards.
“On the finish of the Chiefs rally, photographs had been fired close to Union Station,” she wrote. “I’ve been evacuated and am out of hurt’s method.”
Mayor Lucas mentioned at Wednesday’s press convention that 600 Kansas Metropolis cops had been current on the occasion, in addition to 250 from “exterior businesses”.
“I’m indignant at what occurred at the moment. The individuals who got here to this celebration ought to count on a protected surroundings,” Police Chief Graves mentioned. “Due to unhealthy actors — which had been only a few — this tragedy occurred even within the presence of uniformed regulation enforcement officers.”
Graves added that she had heard rumours that followers “received concerned within the apprehension or the pursuit of one of many suspects”. However, she added, “I can not affirm that proper now”.
Kansas Metropolis police mentioned that “youngster reunification stations” had been arrange on the foremost entrance to Union Station and at 2301 Essential Road.
“We nonetheless have a number of needing reunification,” the division. Police additionally requested witnesses to the taking pictures to go to a nook close to Union Station.
The gamers and Chiefs employees who had been current on the celebration additionally took to social media to precise their sorrow after the assault. None had been among the many injured.
“Praying for Kansas Metropolis,” Patrick Mahomes, the staff’s star quarterback, wrote.
One other participant, linebacker Drue Tranquill, likewise supplied prayers “for all of the victims on this heinous act”.
“Pray that medical doctors & first responders would have regular fingers & that every one would expertise full therapeutic,” he posted.
The Gun Violence Archive, a analysis nonprofit, has tallied 48 mass shootings thus far this 12 months within the US, outlined as incidents the place 4 or extra persons are struck by gunfire, not together with the shooter. Mayor Lucas spoke to the excessive charges of gun violence in his remarks.
“When you’ve got individuals who determine to convey weapons to occasions, when you’ve got people who find themselves deciding to attempt to mar occasions — celebratory ones like this one — all of us begin to turn into members of this membership that none of us need to be part of, which is those that have skilled mass shootings,” he mentioned.
“I hope, for Kansas Metropolis, this is likely one of the final occasions we expertise these.”
