“I’m offended at what occurred right now. The individuals who got here to this celebration ought to count on a secure surroundings.”
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By Heather Hollingsworth and Nick Ingram
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eight kids have been amongst 22 individuals hit by gunfire in a taking pictures on the finish of Wednesday’s parade to have a good time the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl win, authorities mentioned, as terrified followers ran for canopy and one more high-profile public occasion was marred by gun violence. One individual was killed, recognized by her radio station as a DJ.
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Kansas Metropolis Police Chief Stacey Graves detailed the taking pictures’s toll at a information convention and mentioned three individuals had been taken into custody. She mentioned she has heard that followers could have been concerned in apprehending a suspect however couldn’t instantly verify that.
“I’m offended at what occurred right now. The individuals who got here to this celebration ought to count on a secure surroundings.” Graves mentioned. Police didn’t instantly launch any particulars concerning the individuals taken into custody or a few attainable motive for the shootings. She mentioned firearms had been recovered, however not what sort of weapons have been used.
“There’s a variety of work forward. That is only the start phases,” she mentioned. “All of that’s being actively investigated.”
It’s the newest sports activities celebration within the U.S. to be marred by gun violence, following a taking pictures that injured a number of individuals final yr in downtown Denver after the Nuggets’ NBA championship, and gunfire final yr at a parking zone close to the Texas Rangers’ World Sequence championship parade.
Social media customers posted stunning video of police operating by way of a crowded scene as individuals hurriedly scrambled for canopy and fled. One video confirmed somebody apparently performing chest compressions on a taking pictures sufferer as one other individual, seemingly writhing in ache, lay on the bottom close by. Folks screamed within the background.
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One other video confirmed two individuals chase and deal with an individual, holding them down till two cops arrived.
Radio station KKFI mentioned in a Fb put up Wednesday night that DJ Lisa Lopez, host of “Style of Tejano,” was killed within the taking pictures.
“This mindless act has taken a good looking individual from her household and this KC Neighborhood,” KKFI mentioned in an announcement.
The taking pictures outdoors Union Station occurred regardless of greater than 800 cops who have been within the constructing and across the space, together with on high of close by buildings, mentioned Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended together with his spouse and mom and needed to run for canopy when gunfire broke out.
“I believe that’s one thing that each one of us who’re mother and father, who’re simply common individuals dwelling every day, should resolve what we want to do about,” Lucas mentioned. “Parades, rallies, colleges, films. It looks like nearly nothing is secure.”
Kansas Metropolis has lengthy struggled with gun violence, and in 2020 it was amongst 9 cities focused by the U.S. Justice Division in an effort to crack down on violent crime. In 2023 the town matched a file with 182 homicides, most of which concerned weapons.
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Lucas has joined with mayors throughout the nation in calling for brand spanking new legal guidelines to scale back gun violence, together with mandating common background checks.
Lisa Cash, a resident of the town, was making an attempt to collect some confetti close to the tip of the parade when she heard any individual yell, “Down, down, all people down!”
At first Cash thought any individual could be joking till she noticed the SWAT staff leaping over the fence.
“I can’t consider it actually occurred. Who of their proper thoughts would do one thing like this? That is purported to be a day of celebration for everyone within the metropolis and the encircling space. and then you definitely’ve obtained some fool that desires to come back alongside and do one thing like this,” she mentioned.
Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, mentioned he heard what appeared like firecrackers after which individuals began operating. After that preliminary flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t assume a lot of it. However 10 minutes later, ambulances began exhibiting up.
“It sucks that somebody needed to wreck the celebration, however we’re in a giant metropolis,” Sanders mentioned.
College Well being spokeswoman Nancy Lewis mentioned the hospital was treating eight gunshot victims. Two have been in crucial situation and 6 have been in steady situation, she mentioned. The hospital additionally was treating 4 individuals for different accidents ensuing from the chaos after the taking pictures, Lewis mentioned.
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Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Kids’s Mercy Kansas Metropolis, mentioned the hospital was treating 12 sufferers from the rally, together with 11 kids, a few of whom suffered gunshot wounds.
St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas Metropolis obtained one gunshot affected person in crucial situation and three walk-ins with accidents that weren’t life-threatening, spokesperson Laurel Gifford mentioned.
“When you could have this many casualties, it’s going to get unfold out amongst a variety of hospitals so that you just don’t overwhelm any single ER,” she mentioned.
Chiefs coach Rick Burkholder mentioned that he was with coach Andy Reid and different coaches and employees members on the time of the taking pictures, and that the staff was on buses and returning to Arrowhead Stadium.
“We’re really saddened by the mindless act of violence that occurred outdoors of Union Station on the conclusion of right now’s parade and rally,” the staff mentioned in an announcement.
Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson and first woman Teresa Parson have been on the parade through the gunfire however have been unharmed. “Because of the professionalism of our safety officers and first responders, Teresa and I and our employees are secure and safe,” Parson mentioned in an announcement.
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President Joe Biden was briefed on the taking pictures and can proceed to obtain updates, a White Home spokesperson mentioned. White Home officers have been in contact with state and native leaders, and federal regulation enforcement was on the scene supporting their native counterparts.
Areas that had been crammed with crowds have been empty after the taking pictures, with police and firefighters standing and speaking behind an space restricted by yellow tape.
Throngs had lined the route earlier, with followers climbing timber and avenue poles or standing on rooftops for a greater view. Gamers rolled by way of the group on double-decker buses, as DJs and drummers heralded their arrival. Proprietor Clark Hunt was on one of many buses, holding the Lombardi Trophy.
Town and the staff every chipped in round $1 million for the occasion commemorating Travis Kelce, Mahomes and the Chiefs changing into the primary staff since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots 20 years in the past to defend their title.
After a long time and not using a championship, the town has gained expertise with victory parades. 5 seasons in the past the Chiefs defeated the 49ers for the staff’s first Tremendous Bowl championship in 50 years. That adopted the Kansas Metropolis Royals successful the World Sequence in 2015, the town’s first baseball championship in 30 years.
Then final yr the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 and prophetically vowed they might be again for extra.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Related Press writers Scott McFetridge in Des Moines, Iowa; Jim Salter in St. Louis; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Summer season Ballentine in Columbia, Missouri; and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.
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