DEVELOPING STORY: At least 22 people were shot after the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally in downtown. One person died. Police say at least nine of the victims are children and there are three people in custody.
The Kansas City Star reports that the victim is a mother from Johnson County, Kansas – believed to be a popular disc jockey on a community radio station.
“People started crashing forward, everybody started running, there was screaming,” one woman told KMBC. “We didn’t know what was happening, but in this day and age when people run, you run.”
“We went where an elevator was, we shut the doors and sat back against the doors and we prayed,” she added.
“There was yelling and we didn’t know if it was safe to leave, so we tried to block the doors. We heard the elevator start to move so we opened the doors and ran out — there were officers there,” she said. “I’ve never been so glad to see an officer in my life.”
The shooting took place west of Union Station, near the garage, as Chiefs fans were leaving, according to Kansas City police.
About 1 million parade-goers had been expected at Wednesday’s celebration.
Parade-goer Arnold Sauther said when the rally ended the Chiefs went into Union Station, and fans followed the players to get autographs.
“Then, all of a sudden they all started running out, and you see all these policemen come running in there — and you knew something happened in the station,” Sauther told Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC.
“We see people running, and we hear gunshots, and we take off running. And we look over and there’s a guy next to us on the ground,” witness Jennifer Wilbers told KMBC.
Statement from the Kansas City Chiefs pic.twitter.com/erKsrF3SX8
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 14, 2024
All Chiefs players, coaches and staff are safe, officials said.
Players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, linebacker Drue Tranquill and guard Trey Smith, spoke out on social media about the shooting.
The police chief said 800 law enforcement officers were at the parade and rally.
“I am angry,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.”
“This was a tragic conclusion to a celebration we had all looked forward to — none more than Teresa and me,” Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement. “The First Lady and I were present when shots broke out. Thanks to the professionalism of our security officers and first responders, Teresa and I and our staff are safe and secure.”