(Reuters) – In Kansas City, Missouri, three individuals are being held in police custody and are being questioned regarding their involvement in a deadly mass shooting near the city’s Super Bowl victory rally. The authorities are also attempting to determine who was behind the tragic incident.
At least one person was killed and 21 others were injured by gunfire on Wednesday outside the city’s Union Station. Thousands of fans had gathered there with the Kansas City Chiefs to celebrate the NFL championship triumph over the San Francisco 49ers. It was reported that the bloodshed occurred at the conclusion of a parade, turning the festivity into a scene of chaos as attendees scrambled for safety upon hearing rapid gunfire.
One of the victims who lost their life was a radio personality named Lisa Lopez, who hosted the show “Taste of Tejano” on local radio station KKFI. Chief Ross Grundyson of the Fire Department revealed that fifteen other victims sustained life-threatening wounds. Additionally, eleven of those injured were children as young as 6 years old.
Despite the tragedy, the football team, their coaches, and other staff who attended the rally were unharmed, according to the Chiefs.
During a news conference, Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed that three individuals had been detained and were under investigation in connection with the shooting. However, investigators were still unable to determine a motive for the incident.
She mentioned that authorities are uncertain whether the Super Bowl victory celebration was specifically targeted for the attack or if the violence was incidental to the event and spilled over into it. Officials appealed to the public for any information or video footage that might assist the police in understanding the sequence of events.
Graves also acknowledged the existence of a video purportedly showing fans subduing a suspect, adding that investigators were analyzing the footage to identify whether the individual was among those in police custody. A parade attendee named Paul Contreras recounted his experience to a local television station, stating that he was among the fans who helped tackle the suspect and saw the individual drop a gun when he was knocked down.
Despite the presence of over 800 law enforcement officers, including federal agents, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas expressed dismay that the city authorities were still unable to prevent such violence. He emphasized the need for more stringent security measures, considering the vulnerability of public events to such incidents.
The shooting occurred near a garage west of the station, with Union Station serving as the backdrop to the stage for the victory rally. Founded 109 years ago, the Beaux Arts building was a major U.S. rail hub and is now a museum and terminus for Amtrak passenger service.
The Super Bowl celebration featured Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and other teammates, but his pop superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was not present as she was on tour in Australia at the time. Kelce expressed his sorrow in a social media post over the tragedy and conveyed his solidarity with those who were affected.
Although the governors of Missouri and Kansas were present at the event, they were thankfully unharmed. This tragic shooting occurred three days after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory and coincided with the anniversary of the Kansas City Massacre in 1933.
Furthermore, it occurred on the sixth anniversary of the infamous mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed and 17 others were injured. This incident was a reminder of the persistent threat posed by gun violence in the United States.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Additional reporting by Brad Brooks, Dan Whitcomb, Kanishka Singh and Rich McKay; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Michael Perry)
