What was supposed to be a festive day turned into a nightmare on Wednesday in Kansas City. At least one person was killed and 21 others were injured in a shooting at the end of the parade celebrating the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory.
Nearly a million people gathered in the streets of Missouri’s largest city to celebrate the Chiefs’ triumph when shots suddenly rang out, not far from Union Station.
PHOTO ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
People who came to watch the Kansas City Chiefs parade leave in panic after the shooting.
Three people were arrested in the process. As of late Wednesday evening, investigators still did not know the motive for the shooting.
Online, videos of supporters fleeing and jumping over barricades showed a chaotic scene. In one of them, a woman practices a heart message on a motionless person in the middle of a disorderly crowd. On the ground, red and yellow confetti – the team colors –, empty soda cans and overturned folding chairs.
“I thought they were fireworks,” John O’Connor told the daily The Kansas City Starclaiming to have heard “between 15 and 20 shots in a short period of time”.
PHOTO ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A person injured in the shooting is evacuated by first responders.
At least 21 people were injured in the shooting, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said. Of those, eight victims were treated for gunshot wounds at University Health Hospital, including two in critical condition. One person was also in critical condition at Saint Luke’s Hospital.
The victim, Lisa Lopez, was a host at local radio station KKFI. “This senseless act took a beautiful person from her family and the community of [Kansas City] “, the station said on Facebook.
Children’s Mercy Hospital officials said 11 children ages 6 to 15 were being treated at the hospital, and nine of them had gunshot wounds. None were in critical condition.
Reacting to the event, US President Joe Biden once again urged Congress to act against gun violence.
” With [ma femme] Jill, we pray for those killed and injured today in Kansas City, and for our country to find the resolve to end this senseless epidemic of gun violence that is tearing us apart.” he declared in a White House press release.
“Everyone on the floor!” »
Kansas City police did not release details on the individuals arrested. The type of firearms used was also not specified.
PHOTO ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Three people were arrested, but police did not provide details on the individuals arrested or the type of weapon used.
“There is still a lot of work to do. We are only at the beginning,” said Stacey Graves.
A priori, the shooting did not appear to be an act of terrorism, but the result of an argument that went bad, according to an anonymous police source cited by CBS.
Lisa Money told the Associated Press that she was collecting confetti near the end of the parade when she heard someone yell, “Down, down, everyone down!” »
“I can’t believe it,” she said. Who would do something like that? It’s supposed to be a day of celebration for everyone in the town and surrounding areas, and then you have some idiot doing something like this. »
PHOTO DAVID RAINEY, USA TODAY SPORTS
Partisans and police surround an injured person.
Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, heard what sounded like firecrackers, then people running. Calm returned, but 10 minutes later, ambulances began to arrive, he said.
Adrian Robinson described a similar scene at New York Times. After hearing what he thought were firecrackers, he saw hundreds of people running down the street. A minute later, the same people were running in the opposite direction.
“People were traumatized,” he said. They were crying. They were hyperventilating. »
“I am angry about what happened today,” Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said.
PHOTO DAVID RAINEY, USA TODAY SPORTS
Police continued to inspect the scene after the crowd had left.
“This is an absolute tragedy, the type that you would never expect in Kansas City,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas, who was at the parade himself and heard the gunshots.
A parade to celebrate a Super Bowl victory, “it’s a day that many people hope to remember for the rest of their lives; and what they shouldn’t have to remember is the threat posed by gun violence,” the mayor said at a news conference.
A senior White House official assured that the Biden administration was closely monitoring the situation and that federal law enforcement was on site in support.
Chiefs “deeply saddened”
In the evening, the Chiefs announced that all their players, coaches and staff were safe.
“We are deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all the residents of Kansas City,” the club responded.
On social media, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he was “praying for Kansas City.” Just an hour before the shooting, the National Football League released video of the player celebrating during the parade.
With the New York TimesThe Associated Press, CBS and NBC News