What was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans turned into a nightmare on Wednesday, when a shooting near the team’s Super Bowl victory parade left one person dead and 21 others wounded, including eight children.
The shooting occurred around 11:30 a.m. local time, just west of Union Station, where thousands of people had gathered for the rally to celebrate the Chiefs’ first Super Bowl title in 50 years. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and seeing people running for cover.
Police said two armed suspects were taken into custody shortly after the incident and firearms were recovered from the scene. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, but police said they do not believe it was terrorism-related.
The victim who died was identified as Derrick Jones, a 32-year-old local DJ who was performing at a nearby club. His family and friends described him as a passionate music lover and a devoted father of two.
“He was just a good person, he loved everybody, he loved music, he loved his kids,” his cousin, Tiffany Jones, told NBC News. “He was just trying to make a living doing what he loved.”
Among the injured were eight children, ranging from 2 to 16 years old, who were taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital. Some of them had been attending the parade with their families, while others were students from a nearby school that had been dismissed early for the event.
“We are deeply saddened by the senseless acts of violence that occurred today and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” the hospital said in a statement.
The shooting cast a dark shadow over the festive mood of the city, which had been eagerly awaiting the parade since the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The parade, which began at 11 a.m., featured the team’s players, coaches, and staff riding on double-decker buses and throwing souvenirs to the cheering crowd. The rally, which started at 12:30 p.m., included speeches by the team’s owner, Clark Hunt, head coach, Andy Reid, and star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, who was named the Super Bowl MVP.
Mahomes, who led the Chiefs to a stunning comeback in the fourth quarter of the game, expressed his gratitude to the fans and his teammates for their support throughout the season.
“This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said. “We love you, Kansas City. We’re going to do everything we can to keep this rolling.”
The shooting, however, marred the celebration and prompted an outpouring of condolences and prayers from the Chiefs organization and the NFL community.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic events that occurred today near the end of our parade,” the Chiefs said in a statement. “We are in contact with the authorities and are fully cooperating with the investigation. Also we offer our sincerest condolences to the family and friends of the individual who lost their life, and we are praying for the recovery of those who were injured.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also issued a statement, saying he was “shocked and saddened” by the shooting and that the league would provide any assistance it could to the Chiefs and the city.
“Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Kansas City community as they deal with this unthinkable tragedy,” he said.
The shooting was the latest in a series of mass shootings that have plagued the U.S. in recent years, sparking debates over gun control and public safety. According to the [Gun Violence Archive], a nonprofit organization that tracks gun-related incidents, there have been 41 mass shootings, defined as four or more people shot or killed, in the U.S. so far in 2024, resulting in 49 deaths and 175 injuries.
