Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting stemmed from personal dispute: Live updates

2024-12-24 10:21:10 source: category:Markets

The shooting that wounded more than 20 people and killed a beloved mother and local DJ at a celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl Victory appears to stem from a personal dispute, authorities said on Thursday.

Nearly 1 million people were estimated to be in downtown Kansas City on Wednesday when, around 2 p.m. outside Union Station, a historic depot, gunfire sent scores of people running for cover while others were struck in the frenzy, including multiple children.

Police detained three people, including two juveniles, at the rally and recovered several firearms, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a news conference. Graves did not identify the three people in custody. They have not been arrested. Police are working to determine "the involvement of others," Graves said, adding that "there was no nexus to terrorism or home-grown violent extremism," Graves said.

The victims range in age from 8 to 47 years old, said Graves, adding that at least half of the victims are under the age of 16.

Children's Mercy Kansas City received 11 injured children, some of whom were shot at the event; they are expected to recover.

Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother of two and a beloved host of "Taste of Tejano," was killed, the radio station KKFI confirmed. “This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community," it said in a statement.

The shooting occurred as more than 800 law enforcement officers were providing security for the parade route, Graves said.

The bullets ripped through the crowd near the end of the event, after hundreds of thousands of fans in Kansas City's red, white and gold walked several miles through the heart of the city's downtown to Union Station, where a rally was held on the outside lawn with speeches by players and coaches.

Videos from the scene showed throngs of people ducking and running for cover as gunfire and screams could be heard. One video showed two people tackle and pin another person to the ground until officers arrived. Police later said they were working to confirm whether that person was one of the three people detained for questioning.

A news conference about the incident is scheduled to begin Thursday at 10:30 a.m. local time.

'There was a frenzy': Wichita man tackles shooter, wife picks up gun

Trey Filter drove, a 40-year-old lifelong Chiefs fan, joined a group effort to tackle a person who opened fire into the crowd of fans.

“There was a frenzy,” Filter told USA TODAY. “People were freaking out.”

Filter and his family were leaving the parade for their home in Wichita when shots first broke out, scattering the crowd. When he heard a woman shout that someone had a gun, he “just went for it."

As another man tried to restrain the shooter’s hands, Filter reached underneath the shooter to feel for the gun, but couldn’t find it.

“I started hitting him in the ribs,” Filter said.

He didn’t let up until police pulled him off by his feet. Meanwhile, Filter’s wife picked up the shooter’s weapon, a “huge assault rifle.”

Once police had the situation under control, Filter and his family didn’t stick around. “Let's get the hell out of here,” he told his wife. “We didn't know if there was more drama or what was going on.”

– Cybele Mayes-Osterman

At least two people remain in critical condition

University Health, a hospital in Kansas City, announced on Thursday that two people with gunshot wounds remain in critical condition.

The hospital received eight of the gunshot victims and, so far, five have been discharged and one is in stable condition, according to an email to USA TODAY from hospital spokesperson Leslie Carto. Four people with non-gunshot injuries were sent to the hospital; three have been sent home.

FBI create webpage for videos of shooting

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, in collaboration with Kansas City police, has set up a webpage where people with videos of the deadly mass shooting can share it with investigators.

The website asks users to upload files along with a short description of what is shown in the recording. The FBI, in a news release, said it is looking for any videos "from the Super Bowl shooting and any video of the shooters attempting to flee the scene."

Lisa Lopez-Galvan, mother and music aficionado, remembered

Lisa Lopez-Galvan, whose DJ name was "Lisa G," was one of the well-known hosts of a radio show that specialized in Tejano, often called Tex-Mex, a style of music known for its blend of Mexican and U.S. influences.

For years, she listened to the "Taste of Tejano" radio show while working as a private DJ, often hired to perform at local weddings, quinceañeras and an American Legion bar. After several stints volunteering for the show, she was hired as a co-host in March 2022.

"For Lisa music is life and a source of happiness," a biography of Lopez-Galvan on the KKFI website.

Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, two childhood friends who worked with her at a staffing company, told the Associated Press Lopez-Galvan’s family is active in the Latino community and her father founded the city’s first mariachi group, Mariachi Mexico, in the 1980s.

Many Abarca, a Jackson County legislator who knew Lopez-Galvan for over a decade, said among the things he'll remember most clearly about Lopez-Galvan is her smile.

"I have witnessed that smile across DJ equipment, and on the stage of our largest Fiesta in #KansasCity," he wrote on X. "I will not let her death go in (vain). I will legislate, I will fight and I WILL do everything in my power to change this State and City for the better."

Chiefs players react to deadly mass shooting

Multiple Kansas City Chiefs players, some whom spoke to the massive crowd shortly before shots were fired, took to social media to ask for prayers for the victims, thank first responders and demand gun reform.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said on X he is "praying for Kansas City" in the wake of the shooting.

"I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today," wrote Travis Kelce, the Chiefs' tight end, on X. "My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me."

Austin Reiter, the Chiefs offensive lineman said, "We are still struggling to make sense of the tragedy that happened today. Our hearts are with the victims and all those traumatized by this experience. Thank you to the police, first responders, and all those who worked together to get people out of harms way."

Charles Omenihu, defensive end, asked "When are we going to fix these gun laws? How many more people have to die to say enough is enough?" He added that "It’s too easy for the wrong people to obtain guns in America and that’s a FACT."

'Nervous, scared': People recount chaos when gunfire broke out

Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But he said 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.

“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.

Ofilio Martinez, 48, said he heard shots fired a couple blocks away about 10 or 15 minutes before the gunfire near the Union Station rally.

“This is making me nervous, scared,” he said.

Gunfire broke out less than half an hour after Chiefs fans concluded their parade in celebration of the Super Bowl victory.

Contributing: Associated Press; Minnah Arshad, Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY

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