Kansas City Police Connect Super Bowl Rally Shooting to Dispute, Not Extremism, Reports Reuters

By Brad Brooks, Rich McKay, and Brendan O’Brien

A disagreement among several individuals led to a shooting incident in Kansas City, Missouri, which resulted in one woman’s death and injuries to 22 others following the celebration of the city’s NFL Super Bowl victory. Police announced on Thursday that there was no evident connection to extremist activity.

Three individuals, including two minors, have been taken into custody as "subjects" of the ongoing investigation. Police Chief Stacey Graves revealed this information at a press conference held the day after gunfire erupted near the city’s historic downtown rail station. A third juvenile was initially detained but later released after police established that the individual was not connected to the incident, according to police spokesperson Alayna Gonzalez.

Authorities are collaborating with juvenile prosecutors to evaluate evidence and determine potential charges against the two detained minors, both of whom are teenagers. Chief Graves reported that several firearms were found at the shooting scene.

"This appears to be a dispute among several individuals that resulted in gunfire," she indicated, stressing that the violence seemed to be incidental to the celebration rather than a premeditated attack. She also confirmed that preliminary investigations indicated no links to terrorism or homegrown violent extremism.

Details surrounding the origins of the dispute or specifics about the shooting incident, including possible gang involvement, were not elaborated on by the police chief.

The parade and rally celebrating the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers attracted over a million fans, according to Graves. The sound of gunfire as the event was winding down sent many attendees scrambling for safety. Two fans at the rally successfully tackled and detained one of the suspects.

During the Thursday briefing, the count of known gunshot victims was revised to 23, with ages ranging from 8 to 47. The only fatality was Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a prominent local radio personality.

"We fully intend to file charges against those in custody," Graves stated, though the identities of the suspects were not disclosed.

Potential Additional Suspects?

Police are investigating whether there were others involved in the shooting, with the chief asserting that all responsible individuals will be held accountable.

Children’s Mercy Hospital treated nine young victims of gunshot wounds, and all are expected to make a full recovery. The hospital also reported treating two other children with non-gunshot related injuries and one adult victim.

The Jackson County prosecutor, Jean Peters Baker, who has the authority to decide on potential criminal charges, expressed on social media her commitment to addressing this tragedy with the full extent of Missouri law. Charges could be announced as early as Thursday afternoon.

This incident adds to the growing list of gun violence occurrences in the United States, where such events have increasingly taken place in various public settings.

"This is a very real American problem," Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas stated. "As long as individuals with ill intent can access firearms, we risk experiencing more incidents like this one." He confirmed that plans for a St. Patrick’s Day parade would continue, emphasizing that the recent shooting would not deter future city events.

In 2023, Kansas City recorded 182 homicides, the highest number in its history, surpassing the previous record of 176 in 2020. More than 10% of homicide victims this year have been under the age of 18, according to police statistics.

The shooting incident took place near the iconic Union Station, with its entrance serving as the backdrop for the victory rally, where hundreds of law enforcement officers were present.

The Super Bowl celebration featured Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on stage along with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other team members. However, Kelce’s girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, was away on tour in Australia.

"I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today," Kelce shared on social media late Wednesday. "My heart is with everyone who came out to celebrate and has been affected. Kansas City, you mean the world to me."