A shooting near Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on Wednesday afternoon left one person dead and 22 injured, including nine children. Most of the injured were hit by gunfire.
The eruption of violence came as thousands gathered for a public celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, and turned a day of joy and civic pride into a day of loss and of fear.
Here’s what we know about the shooting so far:
Two teenagers were charged.
Two teenagers have been charged with resisting arrest and «firearms-related» offenses in connection with the shooting, authorities announced Friday.
Additional charges are expected to be filed, according to a spokeswoman for the Jackson County, Mo., Juvenile Clerk’s Office. The teens, who have not been publicly identified, remained in custody Friday.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said Thursday that «there was no connection to local terrorism or violent extremism.»
Several guns were recovered and police said they initially arrested three youths, but released one after determining the person was not involved.
The chief asked the public to come forward with any video or other information that could help authorities determine what happened.
One person was killed.
Elizabeth Galvan, 43, a DJ and radio host, also known as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, was killed in the parade shooting, according to Chief Graves.
“She was the life of a party – and her work as a local DJ often brought her to the center of her community’s celebrations,” said her friend Lisa Lopez.
“She was loved by everyone in our community,” said Ms. Lopez, executive administrative assistant to the editor of the Kansas City Star. “Our Hispanic community has lost a beautiful and wonderful person. »
Most of the injured were children.
Chief Graves said Thursday the victims’ ages ranged from 8 to 47 years old. Half were under 16 years old.
Area medical centers have seen more than two dozen patients, hospital officials said.
Children’s Mercy Hospital said it was treating 11 children ages 6 to 15, as well as a mother who did not want to leave her child during the shooting. Nine of the children were shot and injured. None of the children were in critical condition and all are expected to recover.
Twelve people were taken to University Health, formerly Truman Medical Center. Eight of them were being treated for gunshot wounds, including two in critical condition.
A gunshot victim is in serious condition at Saint Luke’s Hospital. Three other people arrived injured.
The filming location was a central point of the day’s events.
Kansas City’s victory celebration included a parade through the city’s downtown and ended with a rally in front of Union Station, an Amtrak hub and tourist spot.
“As soon as the rally ended, shots were fired from the west side of Union Station,” Chief Graves said, adding, “I know one of the suspects was immediately pursued on foot. »
When chaos broke out, many participants said it was difficult to know where to go.
At first, the gunshots sounded like fireworks, said Ian Johnson, who was selling hot dogs near the event’s main stage. It wasn’t until fans started running — some of them taking refuge under his hot dog tent — that he realized a shootout was in progress.
Courtney Brown, of Independence, Missouri, and her two sons were also near the scene when the gunfire began. She didn’t hear any gunshots, she said. But she heard someone shout, “Get down.”
Her instincts told her to run, so she told her children to keep moving. “We almost got trampled twice,” she said. The three of them linked arms and huddled near a barricade until the crush of the crowd subsided.
The team was joined at the rally by political leaders from the region.
Gov. Laura Kelly of Kansas had to be evacuated and said on social media that she was “out of danger.” Gov. Mike Parson of Missouri and his wife were both «safe,» according to the governor’s office. said.
The football team said all players, staff and families also left the event safely.
Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback who led his team to victory on Sunday, said on social media, he “prayed for Kansas City.”
Other players shared similar messages of support to the community gathered downtown.
Guard Trey Smith thanked emergency personnel “who ran toward the sound of danger” and linebacker Drue Tranquill recognized the efforts of the doctors who treated those who were shot. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, a receiver who scored a touchdown in Sunday’s game, tried to connect with children who were being treated at a local children’s hospital, to offer them support “in any way possible”.
The report was provided by Traci Angel, Nicolas Bogel-Burroughs, Julie Bosmann, Kevin Draper, Colbi Edmonds Jacey Fortin, Gaya Gupta, Adele Hassan, Jesus Jiménez, Ben Shpigel And Jenny Vrentas.