Kansas City Chiefs parade and rally shooting investigation continues Thursday, mayor says
At least 22 people were injured by gunfire, including nine children
I WANT TO THANK THE PEOPLE WHO ACTED BRAVELY YESTERDAY ALONGSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT, TO INCLUDE THE KANSAS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOUR SELFLESS ACT DID NOT GO UNNOTICED. THANK YOU, KANSAS CITY. I’M ANGERED BY WHAT OCCURRED IN OUR CITY YESTERDAY, BUT I AM ALSO THANKFUL FOR THE RESPONSE. MEMBERS OF THE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE KANSAS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OFFICIALS, FEDERAL PARTNERS, AND MANY OTHERS HAVE WORKED AROUND THE CLOCK INVESTIGATING THIS INCIDENT. ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION HAS ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE YOU THIS UPDATE TODAY. I WANT TO THANK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE GOVERNOR, THE MAYOR, AND NUMEROUS OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CHIEFS OF POLICE FOR REACHING OUT TO ME DIRECTLY, OFFERING SUPPORT, ASSISTANCE TO INCLUDE FEDERAL RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN THIS INVESTIGATION. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO STRESS THAT PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS HAVE SHOWN THERE WAS NO NEXUS TO TERRORISM OR HOMEGROWN VIOLENT EXTREMISM. THIS APPEARED TO BE A DISPUTE BETWEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT ENDED IN GUNFIRE DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. WE LEARNED THERE ARE 23 VICTIMS OF YESTERDAY’S SHOOTING. ONE OF OUR VICTIMS, ELIZABETH GALVAN, 43 YEARS OLD, DIED AND WE ARE STILL LEARNING ABOUT HER. BUT KNOW THAT SHE IS BELOVED BY MANY TO HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WE ARE WITH YOU AND WE ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO INVESTIGATE HER MURDER. THE 22 VICTIMS AGE RANGED BETWEEN EIGHT YEARS OLD AND 47 YEARS OLD. AT LEAST HALF OF OUR VICTIMS ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 16. AS AS MENTIONED YESTERDAY, WE HAVE SUBJECTS DETAINED, TWO OF WHICH ARE JUVENILES. WE ARE WORKING TO DETERMINE THE INVOLVEMENT OF OTHERS AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED, WE HAVE RECOVERED SEVERAL FIREARM AS THIS INCIDENT IS STILL A VERY ACTIVE INVESTIGATION. AUBURN WE ASK ANYONE IN THE VICINITY OF THE SHOOTING THAT DIRECTLY WITNESSED THE SHOOTING INCIDENT HAS ANY VIDEO OF THE SHOOTING INCIDENT OR IS A VICTIM OF THE SHOOTING? WHO HAS NOT YET REPORTED TO POLICE? PLEASE CALL THIS DEDICATED LINE. (816) 413-3477. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY MORE QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL WANT. ANSWERS TO THAT I MAY NOT HAVE ANSWERED, JUST YET. IT’S CRITICAL THAT WE PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THIS CASE SO THAT WE CAN BRING JUSTICE TO THE VICTIMS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND EVERYONE ELSE INVOLVED. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED WE ARE ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE. CHIEF, WE’RE GOING TO PASS THIS ON TO CHIEF GRANDISON FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. GOOD MORNING. I’M FIRE CHIEF ROSS GRANDISON. YESTERDAY, KANSAS CITY UNITS, ALONG WITH OUR MUTUAL AID PARTNERS, TREATED A TOTAL OF 22 VICTIMS OF THE SHOOTING INCIDENT. UM, WE HAD ONE FATALITY THAT WAS ON SCENE. EIGHT CRITICAL, SEVEN SERIOUS, AND SIX PATIENTS WITH MINOR INJURIES. ALL THE CRITICAL PATIENTS WERE TRANSPORTED OFF THE SCENE WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF OUR POINT OF CONTACT WITH THEM. WE TRANSPORTED TO THE CHILDREN’S MERCY UNIVERSITY. HEALTH AND SAINT LUKE’S AND THE PLATTE PLAZA. CCFD HAD A PLAN IN PLACE, AND WE WERE READY TO RESPOND TO AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING, WE HAD APPROXIMATELY EIGHT PERSONNEL FROM KCFD AND KC MEDICAL WHO WERE ASSISTING US IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. SOME OF THOSE MEMBERS WERE WITHIN 40FT OF WHERE THE SHOOTING TOOK PLACE. THESE MEMBERS DID NOT RUN FOR COVER, BUT STAYED ON SCENE TO TREAT AND TRIAGE THE INJURED, WHILE ADDITIONAL KCFD UNITS RAN TO THEIR THEIR ASSISTANCE. I AM VERY GRATEFUL AND PROUD OF THE SERVICE OF THESE CREWS THAT WORKED THIS TERRIBLE INCIDENT. THEY GAVE THEIR ALL YESTERDAY LIKE THEY DO EVERY DAY IN THIS CITY AND AGAIN PUT THEIR THE PUBLIC’S LIVES ABOVE THEIR OWN. AND WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THANKS TO ALL THE MUTUAL AID, UH, PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH ON THIS INCIDENT. UM, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS. CHIEF, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT A COMMENT YOU MADE YESTERDAY BECAUSE YOU SAID THIS IS NOT KANSAS CITY, AND YOU JUST MENTIONED THAT THIS WAS AN ARGUMENT. APPARENTLY, THAT ESCALATED A SIMILAR SITUATION JUST HAPPENED RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER AT CROWN CENTER LESS THAN A MONTH AGO. LAST YEAR, WE SET A RECORD FOR HOMICIDES IN THIS COMMUNITY WITH 182. SO ISN’T GUN VIOLENCE IN FACT, VERY MUCH A PART OF WHAT WE FACE HERE IN KANSAS CITY? ROUTINELY WE DO FACE GUN VIOLENCE HERE IN KANSAS CITY. BUT MY NOTE OF THIS IS NOT KANSAS CITY IS. AND WE HAD LIKELY 1 MILLION PEOPLE DOWN IN AND AROUND THIS THIS CELEBRATION TO TO HAVE THE THE ABILITY TO HAVE THAT MANY PEOPLE IN, IN OUR DOWNTOWN AREA WITH A I’M NOT I DON’T WANT TO MINIMIZE THIS EVENT, BUT YOU HAVE THAT’S KANSAS CITY THAT IS A MILLION PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, ABLE TO COME TOGETHER FOR A CELEBRATION. AGAIN, YOU HAVE JUST A HANDFUL OR I’M NOT. I DON’T HAVE A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF OF ACTORS IN THIS THAT THAT PERPETRATED THE VIOLENCE THAT THAT PLAYED OUT. DO YOU HAVE ARRESTS BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING, YOU CAN ONLY HOLD THESE FOLKS FOR SO LONG. CORRECT. CHARGE THEM. HAVE YOU CHARGED THEM YET? UH, WE HAVE NOT CHARGED THEM YET. THIS IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. WE DO HAVE 24 HOURS UNTIL WE. WE HAVE TO EITHER FILE CHARGES OR RELEASE THEM. AND AGAIN. AGAIN, WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE TO PRESENT THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CASE FOR PROSECUTION. THERE. ISSUES WITH LINKING THEM TO THE ACTUAL SHOOTING. UM, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE AT THIS POINT TO MAKE SO SO SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS, I’M NOT ABLE TO GIVE A DIRECT ANSWER JUST BECAUSE I WANT TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THIS INVESTIGATION. MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW AND WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO TO US IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IN THIS CASE IS PRESENTED FOR SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION. SO SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS I’M HESITANT TO I THINK THE ANSWER IS SHE’S NOT ANSWERING. YOUR SECOND, MR. MAYOR, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE SO MANY HOURS FROM THE SHOOTING, AND AT THIS POINT, YOU’RE NOT ANNOUNCING AN ARREST. I JUST DON’T UNDERSTAND. WE HAVE SUBJECTS THAT ARE DETAINED, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, THAT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. WE HAVE DETECTIVES THAT HAVE WORKED OVERNIGHT AND THROUGH THE NIGHT THAT ARE STILL UPSTAIRS RIGHT NOW WORKING WITH OUR JACKSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE FOR, FOR, UH, THE FURTHERANCE OF THIS INVESTIGATION. I HAVE A NUMBER THAT THAT THAT WE WE HAVE, UM, ALL INTENTIONS OF PRESENTING CHARGES. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT, UM, THE INDIVIDUALS, WERE THEY PART OF A GANG? WAS THIS SOME KIND OF GANG CREW? UH, YOU KNOW, THE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE, UH, SUBJECTS INVOLVED. WE. THAT’S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. CAN YOU. GOOD. YOU’RE GOOD. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD TO THE LADY, PLEASE. YOU’RE GOOD. GO. WERE THE THREE SUSPECTS OR THE THREE PEOPLE YOU CURRENTLY HAVE IN CUSTODY? WERE THEY KNOWN TO KANSAS CITY POLICE PRIOR TO THIS? OR ANY FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS ALSO UNDER INVESTIGATION? CHIEF, CAN YOU ELABORATE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE LOCATION WHERE THE SHOOTINGS TOOK PLACE? CORRECT. CAN YOU TELL US THAT INITIAL REPORTS WERE THAT THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE LOCATION? IT REALLY IS. THAT’S NOT THE CASE. IT WAS MOSTLY ON THE WEST SIDE OF UNION STATION. I HAD ANOTHER QUESTION. YOU MADE IT SOUND LIKE YOU’RE NOT SURE AT THIS POINT HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED. DOES THAT MEAN THERE ARE POTENTIALLY MORE SHOOTERS OUT IN THE OPEN RIGHT NOW? WHAT WHAT THAT IS, IF I COULD CLARIFY, THAT, IS THAT WE ARE NOT CLOSING THE DOOR AND GIVING DIRECT NUMBERS ON THIS. THIS IS STILL AN ACTIVE INVESTIGATION WHERE ARE STILL ASKING THE PUBLIC THAT IF ANYONE NOTICED THAT IF ANYONE WITNESSED THE SHOOTING DIRECTLY TO STILL CONTACT POLICE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANYONE THAT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR YESTERDAY IS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. CAN YOU ELABORATE? WOULD YOU TELL US AGAIN THE NAME OF THE VICTIM, ELIZABETH GALVAN? AND HOW OLD IS SHE? SHE’S 43. 43. OKAY. AND AND WHERE AND WHAT IS WHAT IS THAT TIME DID THE SHOOTING WAS WHEN WAS THAT REPORTED AND WHERE EXACTLY DID IT? IT WAS APPROXIMATELY, I BELIEVE MAYBE 1:50 P.M. UH, I’M NOT COMPLETELY SURE ON EXACTLY WHEN THE SHOTS WERE FIRED, BUT IT WAS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CELEBRATION RALLY. YES, SIR. CHIEF, CAN YOU ELABORATE AT ALL ON THE FIREARMS THAT WERE RECOVERED ON THE SCENE? UH, RIGHT NOW, I AM NOT GOING TO ELABORATE ON THAT JUST YET. THERE THERE WERE SEVERAL FIREARMS THAT WERE RECOVERED. IS THE ATF ABLE TO LEGALLY HOLD ON JUST A SECOND. WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION? THE ATF HELPING YOU? UH, WE HAVE OUR WE HAVE ENGAGED OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, UH, KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS. WE HAVE HISTORICALLY, AND THEY HAVE OFFERED ALL OF THEIR ASSISTANCE TO WHATEVER WE NEED IN THIS. MINERS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEGALLY POSSESS THESE WEAPONS. IF THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WERE LEGALLY OBTAINED SOMEHOW, WOULD A MINOR BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT WEAPON IN PUBLIC? MINERS SHOULD NOT BE IN POSSESSION OF WEAPONS IN PUBLIC. ONE OF THE WEAPONS. WELL, CERTAINLY THAT YEAH. GO AHEAD. I WAS WATCHING THE LOCAL NEWS. YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT A HIGH POWERED WEAPON. AND. YEAH. JUVENILES. YEAH. PEOPLE SHOULDN’T HAVE. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WAS WAS A HIGH POWERED WEAPON USED IN THIS INCIDENT? I THINK THE CHIEF EXPLAINED. RIGHT NOW THERE’S STILL AN INVESTIGATION AS TO THE FIREARMS. THE FIREARMS HAVE BEEN RETRIEVED AND THEN WE’LL LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. TO THE EXTENT THAT I WAS SPEAKING TOWARDS IT, IT WAS FROM LISTENING TO SOUNDS OF GUNFIRE, BOTH IN PERSON AND CERTAINLY IN CONNECTION WITH WHAT I HAVE SINCE SEEN IN VIDEO AS WELL. BUT WE’LL HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION ON, UH, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THAT’S BEING INVESTIGATED WITH THE FIREARMS. THERE WAS A LONG GUN. ONE SECOND. GO AHEAD. I KNOW YOU HAVEN’T SAID SO, BUT YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PICTURES SHOWN OF LIKE IT, UH, ARE OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT. IF THERE’S A LONG WEAPON, WOULDN’T THAT BE SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE HUNDREDS OF POLICE OFFICERS THERE. WOULDN’T THAT BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY BE ABLE TO SPOT BEFORE IT’S EVEN USED? I THINK OUR POLICE OFFICERS DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB YESTERDAY. I’M NOT HERE TO SECOND GUESS ANY PART OF THAT WORK. I KNOW THAT WE WILL REVIEW THIS SITUATION LIKE WE DO ANY OTHER INCIDENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN KEEP THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS CITY SAFE IN FUTURE TIMES. YES. A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, VICTIMS THAT WERE HOSPITALIZED. DO WE HAVE AN UPDATE ON HOW MANY WERE DISCHARGED, SPECIFICALLY THE NINE GUNSHOT WOUND VICTIMS THAT WERE CHILDREN THAT O-LINE. WE DON’T WE DON’T HAVE WE DON’T HAVE THE THE UPDATES ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE CHILDREN THAT WERE HOSPITALIZED THAT HAPPENED NEAR, AROUND THE, UH, THE RALLY. I DIDN’T HEAR YOU. WERE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL SHOOTINGS THAT TOOK PLACE BEFORE OR AROUND THE, UH, RALLY POINT? UH, YESTERDAY IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A SHOOTING IN AND AROUND, UH, 27TH AND GUILLUM. THAT AREA. UH, AND WE WERE ALSO ASKED IF THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SHOOTING. RIGHT NOW, WE DON’T HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT THOSE ARE RELATED, BUT THAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION. WAS THERE A CONSIDERATION OF HAVING METAL DETECTORS? UNDERSTOOD. CHIEF MAYOR, WOULD YOU DO ANOTHER PARADE NEXT YEAR IF THE CHIEFS WIN, I’LL JUST DO THE PARADE POINT AND. THEN WILL WE DO IT AGAIN? IF CHIEFS WIN, WOULD YOU HOLD ANOTHER PARADE? BECAUSE I’VE TALKED TO PEOPLE THAT SAID THEY WOULDN’T COME. HERE’S THE THING. WE HAVE A PLAN FOR SAINT PATRICK’S DAY PARADE IN KANSAS CITY. WE HAVE PARADES ALL THE TIME. I DON’T THINK THEY’LL END. CERTAINLY WE RECOGNIZE THE PUBLIC SAFETY CHALLENGES AT ISSUE THAT RELATE TO THEM. THIS IS WHY WE HAVE DETECTIVES RIGHT NOW WHO ARE DOING IMPORTANT WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO COMMITTED THESE OFFENSES ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. WE WILL LEARN ABOUT THE TYPES OF FIREARMS THAT ARE USED AND WE’LL DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN, BOTH AS A CITY AND WE’RE WORKING WITH OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO SEE THAT WE CAN HELP AVOID THESE TYPES OF SITUATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SHOOTING AT A PARADE IN OUR COUNTRY OR A RALLY THAT IS CERTAINLY A TRAGIC, UH, INCIDENT FOR US BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THEM. YOU ASK THE CHIEF AT THE OUTSET, IS THIS KANSAS CITY? WELL, WE’VE HAD PARADES LIKE THIS BEFORE. WE HAD ONE LAST YEAR WITHOUT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. WE HAD A KANSAS CITY ROYALS VICTORY PARADE WHERE WE HAD ALMOST NO ARRESTS IN 2015. SO I DON’T THINK IN ANY WAY THAT THIS IS KANSAS CITY. I DO THINK THAT THERE IS A GUN VIOLENCE CHALLENGE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND MANY OTHERS. AND THERE CERTAINLY IS A GUN VIOLENCE CHALLENGE AS IT RELATES TO MAJOR EVENTS THAT, HOWEVER, DOES NOT MEAN THAT KANSAS CITY WILL STOP HAVING MAJOR EVENTS. WE WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE SAFE, AND THAT’S WHY I THINK YOU’RE SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE KCPD AND THE KANSAS CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT DOING WORK TO ADDRESS THAT. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR. WE JUST HEARD FROM KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE CHIEF FIRE CHIEF AND MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS AND WE DID GET AN UPDATE AS FAR AS THE VICTIM TOLL, WE KNOW 23 PEOPLE WERE HURT. NOW THEY’VE ADDED ONE. THIS INCLUDES ONE WOMAN, A 43 YEAR OLD LOCAL RADIO DJ NAMED LISA LOPEZ GALVAN, WHO WAS KILLED. AS FAR AS THE VICTIMS WHO SURVIVED THIS, POLICE WOULD NOT GIVE AN UPDATE. CHIEF STACY GRAVES DID NOT SAY MUCH ABOUT THAT. SHE DID PRAISE GOOD SAMARITANS FOR HELPING ONE OF HELPING DETAIN ONE OF THE SUSPECTS YESTERDAY. SECONDS AFTER THE GUNFIRE, SHE ALSO WENT ON TO SAY THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE’S NO CONNECTION, NO FORESEEN CONNECTION TO TERRORISM OR HOMEGROWN EXTREMISM. SHE SAYS THAT THIS STARTED AS A FIGHT BETWEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE AND TURNED VIOLENT, AND THAT IT APPEARS TO BE ONLY ONE SCENE ON THE WEST SIDE OF UNION STATION. AT ONE POINT, WE HAD HEARD THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A SECOND SCENE THERE, BUT THE CHIEF SEEMINGLY DEBUNKING THAT THIS MORNING, THREE SUSPECTS ARE IN POLICE CUSTODY, INCLUDING THE CHIEF, SAYS TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE UNDER AGE OF NOTE. AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, THEY ARE NOT CHARGED YET AND THAT’S THEY’RE NOT CLOSING THE DOOR ON MORE POTENTIAL SUSPECTS. BUT THE 24 HOUR TIMER ON CHARGING THESE THREE PEOPLE IS RUNNING OUT. THE CHIEF SAYS POLICE HAVE 24 HOURS TO EITHER CHARGE THEM OR RELEASE THEM THAT THEY’RE WORKING WITH THE LOCAL PROSECUTORS OFFICE. POLICE DID RECOVER SEVERAL GUNS, BUT WOULDN’T SPECIFY WHAT TYPE AUDIO HEARD AT THE SCENE, AND VIDEO SUGGESTS A HIGH POWERED RIFLE WITH VERY QUICK SHOTS BACK TO BACK TO BACK. WE DON’T HAVE ANSWERS YET. WE’RE STILL PIECING TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED. SO ARE THEY. THEY’RE THEY’RE HOPING TO GET TIPS AND VIDEO. I DO WANT TO GIVE YOU THE PHONE NUMBER FOR THE TIPS HOTLINE THAT THEY HAVE FOR THIS. IT’S 816413 3477. IT IS A SPECIAL HOTLINE SET UP JUST FOR THIS SHOOTING. A CHIEFS GRAVES HAD SAID. AND YOU HEARD OUR ANDY ALCOCK KIND OF CALL HER OUT ON THIS. THAT WHAT HAPPENED ISN’T KANSAS CITY, BUT SADLY, GUN VIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM HERE. WE JUST AS YOU HEARD ANDY SAY TO THE CHIEF, JUST CAME OFF OF A RECORD YEAR WHEN IT CAME TO HOMICIDES. AND THIS IS VERY MUCH IN THE FOREFRONT NOW OF MANY MINDS IN THE METRO. YOU HEARD FROM MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS VERY BRIEFLY, UH, WORKING REALLY TO DEFEND HIS HIS POLICE CHIEF, WHO HE HAD PICKED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. HE WAS THERE WITH HIS FAMILY AND ACTUALLY GOT SEPARATED FROM HIS WIFE. AND ALL THE CHAOS. HE REITERATED THAT THE SITUATION IS STILL UNFOLDING. AS FOR THE QUESTION, IF WE WILL EVER SEE A RALLY OF THAT SIZE AGAIN, AND WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE IN KANSAS CITY TO HAVE AT LEAST FIVE IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO, WE DON’T KNOW, THE MAYOR SAID. LIVE ON FIRST NEWS THIS MORNING THAT THAT MAYBE FOR THE INTERIM WE MIGHT MOVE TO SMALLER EVENTS. AND THERE WERE TALKS ABOUT METAL DETECTORS AND EXTRA SECURITY MEASURES. THESE ARE ALL QUESTIONS THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK FOR A WHILE NOW. OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS A LOT TO PROCESS AFTER A CRIME LIKE THIS INVOLVING CHILDREN IN A CROWD OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, THERE’S HURT, THERE’S ANGER, MANY QUESTIONS. WE GET IT. REST ASSURED, WE’LL BE WORKING TO ANSWER THEM IN THE DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD. THANK YOU FOR JOINI
Kansas City Chiefs parade and rally shooting investigation continues Thursday, mayor says
At least 22 people were injured by gunfire, including nine children
Updated: 11:51 AM CST Feb 15, 2024
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said Thursday that the shooting that left 22 people with gunshot wounds and a woman dead started as a dispute between several people at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Victory Parade and Rally.Kansas City leaders and police continue working Thursday to sort through evidence in Wednesday’s Kansas City Chiefs parade and rally shooting at Union Station.Graves confirmed that the 22 shooting victims ranged between eight years old and 47 years old. At least half of the victims are under the age of 16. Graves said three people were taken into custody after the incident that left the city reeling following what was supposed to be a day of celebration. Two of those suspects are juveniles. Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Thursday morning that the investigation continues into the shooting and the individuals who were taken into custody are being questioned by law enforcement. In Missouri, authorities have 24 hours to prosecute individuals suspected of a crime before they must be released from custody.Graves said in a Thursday morning news conference that the department is working to present the most complete case possible to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for charges. Photos and video from the scene showed bystanders jumping in to tackle at least one of the suspects, while police led another man away in handcuffs. Meanwhile, others jumped into action to try and help victims of the shooting. Kansas City radio station KKFI confirmed Wednesday night that one of its DJs, Elizabeth “Lisa” Lopez-Galvan, host of Taste of Tejano, died in the shooting. Lopez is the sister of Lee’s Summit Mayor Pro Tem Beto Lopez, according to the city’s mayor. Along with losing his sister, Lopez’s two nieces and nephew were also injured. “Our dear friend Mayor Pro Tem Beto Lopez and his family need our prayers now and tonight,” said Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird. “His family members were victims in the parade today. His sister was killed. He has two nieces and a nephew also injured in the horrific shooting. This is truly heartbreaking and an absolute tragedy. Though we feel helpless we can pray for him and his family and offer our most sincere condolences and empathy. Beto and Venessa, we love you…we are praying for you…we will pray even harder as you deal with the loss and heartache.” The Kansas City Fire Department says eight victims had ‘immediate life-threatening injuries,’ seven had life-threatening injuries, and six had non-life threatening.Victims were transported to three different hospitals: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Truman Medical Center, and St. Luke’s Hospital.Children’s Mercy Hospital said Wednesday night that they were treating 11 children at the hospital, including nine gunshot victims. All of the children are expected to make a recovery, according to the hospital. The age range of the victims was between 6-15 years old. Graves said officers immediately responded to the area and performed life-saving measures to aid victims.”We know officers ran towards danger,” she said. “Officers were there to keep everyone safe.”Over 800 police officers were on scene, 600 of which were from the Kansas City Police Department.”I’m angry at what happened today,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment. We had over 800 law enforcement officers at this location.” Kansas City police, FBI seeking video: The FBI and Kansas City Police Department have set up an online page dedicated to tips about Wednesday’s shooting at Union Station.The shooting killed one person and wounded 22 others.The FBI is encouraging parade-goers to provide any video of the parade that could help them in the case.That site is here.Kansas City police have also set up a separate phone number on the case. If you have information, call police at 816-413-3477″We need to hear from anyone in the vicinity of the parade shooting today that directly witnessed the shooting incident, has any video of the shooting incident or who was a victim of the shooting who has not yet reported being shot to please call this dedicated line 816-413-3477,” KCPD said in a tweet.Additional coverage of Chiefs parade shooting: There was a woman crying’: Witnesses describe aftermath of shooting at Chiefs rallyQuarterback Patrick Mahomes, other Chiefs players reacts to mass shooting at parade celebrationHomeland Security assisting in investigation of Chiefs parade mass shootingVideo: Person taken into police custody at Chiefs Super Bowl rally following paradeDeadly shooting after Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade: What we know Video: Chiefs parade and rally attendees tackle possible shooting suspect’Right behind us’: Couple says they saw shooter after shots fired at Union Station’There was a woman crying’: Witnesses describe aftermath of shooting at Chiefs rallyVideos show the chaos and fear of mass shooting at Chiefs Super Bowl parade and rallyKansas City’s professional sports teams react to mass shooting at rally after Chiefs paradePresident Biden: Shooting in Kansas City ‘cuts deep in the American soul’Travis Kelce on Union Station shooting: ‘KC, you mean the world to me’ Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos issue statements of support for Kansas City A KMBC viewer provided a video of one of the arrests: NewsChopper 9 footage spotted an emergency crew heading into Union Station. Crews were working on at least two people outside of the station. The NFL Network’s James Palmer tweeted a video of police escorting him and others from Union Station. Report: Chiefs players helped calm childrenSome members of the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly helped children in the seconds after Wednesday’s shooting outside Union Station. Albert Breer, an NFL insider at Sports Illustrated, said Chiefs players left the parade “in shock.” Breer reports multiple players helped calm some children down. Offensive lineman Trey Smith gave one child the WWE title belt players carried around during the parade. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted earlier that he was praying for Kansas City. There are no reports of any injuries for players or coaches.Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder told the AP that the team was on the buses when gunfire rung out. Video: Chiefs parade goers tackled possible suspect
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said Thursday that the shooting that left 22 people with gunshot wounds and a woman dead started as a dispute between several people at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Victory Parade and Rally.
Kansas City leaders and police continue working Thursday to sort through evidence in Wednesday’s Kansas City Chiefs parade and rally shooting at Union Station.
Graves confirmed that the 22 shooting victims ranged between eight years old and 47 years old. At least half of the victims are under the age of 16.
Graves said three people were taken into custody after the incident that left the city reeling following what was supposed to be a day of celebration. Two of those suspects are juveniles.
Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas said Thursday morning that the investigation continues into the shooting and the individuals who were taken into custody are being questioned by law enforcement. In Missouri, authorities have 24 hours to prosecute individuals suspected of a crime before they must be released from custody.
Graves said in a Thursday morning news conference that the department is working to present the most complete case possible to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office for charges.
Photos and video from the scene showed bystanders jumping in to tackle at least one of the suspects, while police led another man away in handcuffs.
Meanwhile, others jumped into action to try and help victims of the shooting.
[RELATED: Chiefs guard Trey Smith tells GMA, ‘I’m pretty angry right now’]
Kansas City radio station KKFI confirmed Wednesday night that one of its DJs, Lisa Lopez, host of Taste of Tejano, died in the shooting.
Lopez is the sister of Lee’s Summit Mayor Pro Tem Beto Lopez, according to the city’s mayor.
Along with losing his sister, Lopez’s two nieces and nephew were also injured.
“Our dear friend Mayor Pro Tem Beto Lopez and his family need our prayers now and tonight,” said Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird. “His family members were victims in the parade today. His sister was killed. He has two nieces and a nephew also injured in the horrific shooting. This is truly heartbreaking and an absolute tragedy. Though we feel helpless we can pray for him and his family and offer our most sincere condolences and empathy. Beto and Venessa, we love you…we are praying for you…we will pray even harder as you deal with the loss and heartache.”
The Kansas City Fire Department says eight victims had ‘immediate life-threatening injuries,’ seven had life-threatening injuries, and six had non-life threatening.
Victims were transported to three different hospitals: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Truman Medical Center, and St. Luke’s Hospital.
Children’s Mercy Hospital says that they are treating 11 children at the hospital, including nine gunshot victims.
All of the children are expected to make a recovery, according to the hospital.
The age range of the victims were between 6-15 years old.
Graves said officers immediately responded to the area and performed life-saving measures to aid victims.
“We know officers ran towards danger,” she said. “Officers were there to keep everyone safe.”
Over 800 police officers were on scene, 600 of which were from the Kansas City Police Department.
“I’m angry at what happened today,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment. We had over 800 law enforcement officers at this location.”
Kansas City police, FBI seeking video:
The FBI and Kansas City Police Department have set up an online page dedicated to tips about Wednesday’s shooting at Union Station.
The shooting killed one person and wounded 22 others.
The FBI is encouraging parade-goers to provide any video of the parade that could help them in the case.
That site is here.
Kansas City police have also set up a separate phone number on the case. If you have information, call police at 816-413-3477
“We need to hear from anyone in the vicinity of the parade shooting today that directly witnessed the shooting incident, has any video of the shooting incident or who was a victim of the shooting who has not yet reported being shot to please call this dedicated line 816-413-3477,” KCPD said in a tweet.
Additional coverage of Chiefs parade shooting:
A KMBC viewer provided a video of one of the arrests:
NewsChopper 9 footage spotted an emergency crew heading into Union Station. Crews were working on at least two people outside of the station.
The NFL Network’s James Palmer tweeted a video of police escorting him and others from Union Station.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Report: Chiefs players helped calm children
Some members of the Kansas City Chiefs reportedly helped children in the seconds after Wednesday’s shooting outside Union Station.
Albert Breer, an NFL insider at Sports Illustrated, said Chiefs players left the parade “in shock.”
Breer reports multiple players helped calm some children down.
Offensive lineman Trey Smith gave one child the WWE title belt players carried around during the parade.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes tweeted earlier that he was praying for Kansas City.
There are no reports of any injuries for players or coaches.
Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder told the AP that the team was on the buses when gunfire rung out.
