One person was killed and 22 others were injured in a mass shooting that erupted outside Kansas City's Union Station Wednesday at the conclusion of the Super Bowl victory parade for the Kansas City Chiefs. Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said Thursday that a preliminary investigation revealed a "dispute between several people" led to gunfire, adding that the motive is still "actively being investigated.”
Three people, including two juveniles, were initially detained in connection with the shooting, but the Associated Press and CNN reported Thursday afternoon that one of those people had since been released, citing a police spokesperson. As of Thursday evening, police had not announced whether they'd charged anyone in connection with the violence.
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Caitlin Dickson
Police reportedly release one of the people arrested following shooting
CNN and the Associated Press reported on Thursday that Kansas City, Mo., police said they released one of the three people arrested following Wednesday's mass shooting after determining that that person was not involved. The remaining two people in custody are juveniles, and police have yet to announce whether either has been charged.
Caitlin Dickson
Hoax posts falsely identify Kansas City Super Bowl parade shooter
Posts erroneously claiming that police identified a suspect in the Kansas City Super Bowl parade shooting named "Sahil Omar" have been circulating on social media. Authorities, however, have not linked Wednesday's violence to anyone by that name. According to AFP:
The rumor rocketed across X and other platforms, with the first posts popping up just hours after the mass shooting at the NFL champions' February 14 victory rally in Kansas City, Missouri, which left one dead and 22 injured, including children as young as 8.
Within a day, "Sahil Omar" was trending on X.
... But authorities had not named suspects or filed charges as of 2100 GMT on February 15 — and the accusations facing "Omar" appear to be part of a months-long internet hoax.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said during a February 15 press conference that the incident was not linked to terrorism but instead "appeared to be a dispute among several people that ended in gunfire," adding that while investigations were ongoing, two people detained over the shooting were "juveniles" (archived here and here).
Read more from AFP.
Chanelle Chandler
Candlelight vigil to honor shooting victims
Kansas City, Mo., community members plan to gather for a candlelight vigil at Skywalk Memorial Park, 6:30 p.m. local time on Thursday. The vigil will honor Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother and DJ at a local radio station who was a victim of the Chiefs' victory parade mass shooting. The event is open to the public.
The Kansas City community has organized a vigil to show support for the victims of Wednesday’s tragedy. https://t.co/4iEAFv0WUb
— KCTV5 News (@KCTV5) February 15, 2024
Kate Murphy
Kansas City posts info on lost and found collection area
The official X account of Kansas City, Mo., posted information on a lost and found collection area where Kansas City Chiefs fans can pick up any belongings they may have lost as a result of Wednesday's shooting at the Super Bowl rally.
We have established a lost and found collection area located on the East Side of Washington Square Park on Grand Boulevard. Open starting right now and then daily from 9am to 7pm. Items will be securely stored overnight. Call 311 for more information. pic.twitter.com/2uohMks9Oy
— Kansas City (@KansasCity) February 15, 2024
Kate Murphy
Photos show police-secured area outside Union Station one day after mass shooting
Photos show a police-secured area outside of Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday as an investigation into Wednesday's mass shooting is ongoing.
See AlsoKansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting news2 teenagers charged in Kansas City Super Bowl rally shooting. The city is now grappling with the tragedy | CNNChiefs Super Bowl celebration shooting believed to have stemmed from personal dispute, law enforcement officials say | CNNDispute may have led to the mass shooting after the Chiefs' Super Bowl parade, police sayKate Murphy
Three children remain at Children's Mercy Hospital, all expected to recover from shooting injuries
Twelve patients were treated at Children's Mercy hospital in Kansas City, 11 of which are children ranging in ages 6 to 15, according to an update provided by Stephanie Meyer, a senior vice president and chief nursing officer at the hospital. Nine of those patients were treated for gunshot wounds. Out of all the children they have treated following Wednesday's shooting, three remain in the hospital, all of whom are expected to recover from the injuries they suffered as a result of the shooting, according to Meyer.
The briefing also highlighted that the impact the shooting will have on the mental health of the community and children in particular. Hospital officials recommended resources on their website to help parents navigate the aftermath of Wednesday's tragedy.
Chanelle Chandler
Navy vet recounts encountering wounded gunshot victim and tackling suspect
Navy veteran Tony Janssens told People that he started running after he heard gunshots a few feet away during the Chiefs Super Bowl parade at Union Station. He said he then into the back of one of the suspects, who was holding what he said was a bag of guns.
“I saw a guy laying on the ground with about four shots on his side," Janssens says.
He sprinted through the crowd, urging people to evacuate, and while doing so, he says he ran into the back of a person holding a bag. “He’s missing his jaw. He had been shot in the face and his whole jaw was missing,” Janssens says.
Janssens says that at the time, he “didn't know if this guy needed help, as a victim, if he was just a bystander, or if he was actually part of the shooting.”
Janssens says he watched the man pass a bag to two men wearing big, heavy jackets — which seemed suspicious in the 65-degree weather.
“It just didn’t make sense,” he says.
Janssens found a law enforcement officer and led him to the three suspicious-looking men.
As Janssens and the officer approached, Janssens says men started running, and Janssens and the officer ran after them.
“We are running down the street and I'm yelling just, 'Hey, this is the guy,'” Janssens says. “Tackle him! Tackle him!”
“Three other brave individuals heard me and thankfully stepped up when they needed to and tackled him,” Janssens says.
Janssens says he saw an array of guns in the man’s backpack, including what looked to be an assault rifle with an extended clip.
Read more at People.
Kate Murphy
A message of hope spelled out in folding chairs outside Union Station
KMBC, a local news station in Kansas City, Mo., posted on X an aerial video of folding chairs arranged to spell out "KC Strong" at the scene of the shooting outside Union Station.
Police at the secured scene of Wednesday's Chiefs Super Bowl parade and rally shooting have used folding chairs left at Union Station to spell out a message of hope and support for Kansas City. pic.twitter.com/tswjFsrJPs
— KMBC (@kmbc) February 15, 2024
Dylan Stableford
Police have 24 hours to charge shooting suspects or release them
Three people, including two juveniles, were detained in connection with Wednesday's shooting near Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl celebration, official said.
At Thursday's press conference, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves acknowledged that her office has 24 hours from the time they were taken into custody to charge or release them.
Graves said that it remains an active investigation and urged anyone with information or evidence, including video footage of the incident, to contact police.
Kate Murphy
Brother of shooting victim provides more details about her death
Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the mother of two adult children and a beloved disc jockey, died on the grounds of Union Station after she was hit by gunfire that erupted following the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade on Wednesday. Lopez-Galvan's older brother, Beto Lopez, detailed her final moments to the best of his knowledge to The Kansas City Star.
“She never made it to the hospital,” said Lopez, who as president and chief executive officer of the Guadalupe Centers in Kansas City is a leader in the Hispanic community.
The Kansas City Fire Department confirmed as much at a Thursday morning press conference, saying that among 23 victims of gunshots, one died at the scene. Police said Thursday that two juveniles and an adult were detained.
Friends of Lopez-Galvan, the mother of two adult children as well as a beloved disc jockey and radio host, had previously thought she had died at a hospital during surgery. That was not the case.
Read more from The Kansas City Star here.
Dylan Stableford
Son of slain DJ has been released from the hospital
The radio station where Lisa Lopez-Galvan worked posted an update to its Facebook page Thursday, saying the son of the local DJ who was killed in the mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade was shot in the leg but has since been released from the hospital.
According to KKFI-FM, her cousin's two daughters were also wounded in the shooting and are recovering at Children's Mercy Hospital.
"Please keep this family and all of KC in your heart," the station added.
Chanelle Chandler
Chiefs Safety Justin Reid calls for action from leaders after shooting
Kansas City Chiefs player Justin Reid called for America's leaders to "enact real solutions" in a post on X Wednesday night following the deadly shooting after the parade held to celebrate the team's Super Bowl victory. Reid, a safety on the team, called the shooting a "serious problem."
This 🤬 is SAD man! Kids are being shot and somebody didn’t come home tonight. We cannot allow this to be normal. We cannot ourselves to become numb and chalk it up to “just another shooting in America” and reduce people in statistics and then move on tmrw.
This is a SERIOUS…
— Justin Reid (@JustinqReid) February 15, 2024
Kate Murphy
Here's what we still don't know about the Kansas City shooting
While authorities gave an update on Wednesday's mass shooting on Thursday morning, there are still some things we don't know. They include:
• The identities of the suspects. Authorities said three people are in custody, two of whom are juveniles.
• What charges, if any, the people who have been detained may face. Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves told reporters on Thursday morning that charges hadn't been filed against anyone. "This is still under investigation. We do have 24 hours until we either have to file charges or release them," Graves said.
• The exact motive. Officials said the shooting was not linked to terrorism or homegrown extremism and that the gunfire appeared to be the result between a dispute between several people.
• Whether Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was killed in the shooting, knew the suspects. Galvan was a local DJ who co-hosted a radio show on KKFI-FM and performed at weddings and other private events in the area.
Chanelle Chandler
What are Kansas City's gun laws?
While open carry is allowed in most of Missouri, Kansas City laws require a state permit. But most municipalities in the state can't restrict the carrying of concealed weapons. Here are some of the exceptions, according to the Kansas City Star:
Concealed weapons, even with a permit, are not allowed in Missouri at sporting venues that hold more than 5,000 people.
The Kansas City Sports Commission’s website did not specify any firearms restrictions for the 2024 Super Bowl parade.
Concealed carry is restricted in the following places as well, even with a permit:
Any law enforcement agency or jail
Any government building, including courthouses
Within 25 feet of a polling place on Election Day
Inside schools and childcare facilities
Liquor stores, riverboat casinos or amusem*nt parks
Houses of worship
Hospitals
State law also allows private businesses to ban firearms as long as signage follows certain criteria.
Read more from the Kansas City Star.
Dylan Stableford
What we know so far
The shooting took place outside Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday at the conclusion of a Super Bowl victory parade honoring the Kansas City Chiefs.
Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a 43-year-old local DJ and a married mother of two children, was killed in the shooting.
22 others were wounded during the incident.
The injured victims range in age from eight to 47, and at least half of them are under 16, officials said.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said Thursday that it appears a "dispute between several people" at the event led to gunfire.
Police detained three people, including two juveniles, but continue to investigate the shooting.
Chanelle Chandler
Chiefs player offers to help children victims during their recovery
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling tweeted that he wanted to check in on the children recovering at Children's Mercy hospital and to "help them out any way I can."
Any chance anyone can help me get in touch with these kids or families? First off I want to make sure they’re doing ok. But would love to help them out any way I can and get them some stuff from the team to help with the recovery. https://t.co/xlTJXLi7xT
— Marquez V-S (@MVS__11) February 14, 2024
Kate Murphy
Police say no links to terrorism in Wednesday's shooting, at least half of victims are under age 16
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said during a press briefing Thursday morning that there was no link to terrorism or homegrown violent extremism in Wednesday's shooting.
"This appeared to be a dispute between several people that ended in gunfire," Graves said.
"During the overnight hours we learned there are 23 victims of yesterday's shooting. One of our victims, [Lisa Lopez-Galvan], 43 years old, died."
The age range of the victims spans from eight to 47. At least half of the victims are under 16, Graves said.
Graves added that two of the people detained are juveniles and that police are "working to determine the involvement of others."
Chanelle Chandler
Shooting victim recalls woman telling suspect: 'Don't do it'
Chiefs' fan James Gooch Sr. told CBS News This Morning that he, his wife and his 13-year-old son were all shot during the parade near Union Station. His daughter, who was also in attendance, was not injured. Gooch remembers the moments leading up to the shooting.
"I heard ... a girl who said, 'Don't do it, not here. ... This is stupid,'" Gooch recalled.
“My daughter said that some lady was like holding him back, and people had started backing up, and then he pulled [a gun] out and just started shooting and spinning in a circle,” he told CBS News.
Gooch also said he thought the popping sounds he heard were fireworks. But moments later, he was shot in the ankle. His wife was shot in the calf, and his son still has a bullet lodged in his foot.
Kate Murphy
President Biden calls on Congress to act on gun control
In addition to a statement President Biden issued Wednesday evening, he also posted on X for Congress to act on gun control.
Yesterday’s events in Kansas City should move us into action.
How many more families need to be torn apart?
It’s time for Congress to finally act to ban assault weapons, limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks, and keep guns out of the hands of those who…
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) February 15, 2024
Dylan Stableford
Police to hold press conference soon
Kansas City, Mo., police announced on X that they will hold their next press briefing at 10:30 a.m. local time (11:30 a.m. ET).
We will be streaming it live on this page.
