Gunfire erupted at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic death of one woman and leaving more than 20 people injured, including children. The incident occurred at the conclusion of the celebration outside Union Station, a historic landmark in Kansas City. Thousands of fans had gathered along the parade route, with some even perching on trees, street poles, and rooftops to catch a glimpse of the players passing by on double-decker buses.
The Kansas City Chiefs confirmed that all players, coaches, staffers, and their families were safe and accounted for following the shooting. Despite the presence of over 800 police officers in and around the area, the incident unfolded, shocking both attendees and authorities. Mayor Quinton Lucas, who was present with his wife and mother, had to seek safety when the shots rang out.
Lisa Lopez-Galvan, known as “Lisa G” and the host of “Taste of Tejano” on radio station KKFI, was tragically killed in the shooting. Lopez-Galvan, a vibrant individual and devoted mother of two, hailed from a prominent Latino family in the region. Childhood friends Rosa Izurieta and Martha Ramirez, who worked with her at a staffing company, described her as an extrovert. Lopez-Galvan attended the parade with her husband and adult son, who also sustained gunshot wounds.
Lopez-Galvan was not only a radio host but also a talented musician who performed at various events, including weddings, quinceañeras, and an American Legion bar and grill. Her music blended Tejano, Mexican, and Spanish genres with elements of R&B and hip hop. Her family has been actively involved in the local Latino community, with her father founding the city’s first mariachi group, Mariachi Mexico, in the 1980s.
Hospitals in the area reported receiving a total of eight gunshot victims, with two still in critical condition as of Thursday morning. Five individuals have been discharged, while four others were treated for injuries sustained during the ensuing chaos after the shooting. At a children’s hospital, 12 patients, including 11 children aged between 6 and 15, were being treated for gunshot wounds. Fortunately, all were expected to recover.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves stated that three individuals had been detained, and firearms were seized. However, specific details about those detained and the motive behind the shooting have not been released. Authorities, including the FBI, are urging anyone with video footage of the events to submit it to a designated tip line.
The sequence of events leading to the shooting, the number of individuals involved in firing guns, and the presence of multiple crime scenes remain unclear. Chief Graves mentioned reports of fans potentially tackling a suspect, but this information has yet to be confirmed. Kansas City has been grappling with gun violence, and in 2020, it was among nine cities targeted by the U.S. Justice Department in an effort to combat violent crime. Last year, the city recorded 182 homicides, matching its previous record, with the majority involving firearms.
Mayor Quinton Lucas has joined other mayors across the country in advocating for new laws to address gun violence, including the implementation of universal background checks. Unfortunately, this incident adds to a distressing trend of sports celebrations in the U.S. being marred by gun violence, such as the shooting that wounded several people during last year’s Denver Nuggets’ NBA championship celebration and gunfire near the Texas Rangers’ World Series championship parade.
