Shooting Reported at Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - FEBRUARY 14: A general view as fans assemble in front of Union Station prior to the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade on February 14, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

At least one person has died and several others were injured in a shooting that occurred in Kansas City, Missouri, on Feb. 14, as crowds gathered to celebrate the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory, according to local police.

The city's Super Bowl celebration was wrapping up Wednesday afternoon when the incident unfolded. Kansas City police confirmed at 2 p.m. local time that shots had been fired west of Union Station.

More than 800 law enforcement officials were at the victory party due to the large number of people expected to celebrate the Chiefs’ win, Kansas City Missouri Police Department (KCPD) chief Stacey Graves said during a press conference. Upon hearing shots fired, Graves said police responded “immediately” to apprehend suspects and render aid to the victims.

Three people have been taken into custody, Graves said in a Wednesday evening update. Police initially said that two people were apprehended in connection with the shooting but had revised that number to three by 5:30 p.m. local time.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with officials working to determine what led up to the shooting and what the suspects’ motives were. The KCPD has not yet identified the individuals taken into custody.

There were 22 total gunshot victims, including the person who died, Graves said Wednesday evening. Eight of the victims had immediate life-threatening injuries, seven had what KCPD considered life-threatening injuries and six had minor injuries. The victims were taken to three nearby hospitals, including one children's hospital, for treatment of those injuries. Officials have not yet identified any of the victims or provided information regarding their ages.

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Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas noted that the details surrounding the shooting are “fluid” and might change in the hours ahead as officials receive more information. However, he said he’d heard from the Chiefs that the team’s players, coaches and staff were “all accounted for” and “safe.”

Lucas was at Union Station for the victory party when the shooting occurred.

“I, like many others, ran—and ran for safety,” he said, adding a special thanks to the officers who “were running toward danger” when the shooting unfolded.

“This is absolutely a tragedy the likes of which we would have never expected in Kansas City and the likes of which we will remember for some time,” Lucas said.

Graves said she is “angry” at how the day transformed from one of celebration to one of "tragedy."

“The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment,” she said. “We had over 800 law enforcement officers, Kansas City and other agencies, at the location to keep everyone safe. Because of bad actors, which were very few, this tragedy occurred, even in the presence of uniformed law enforcement officers.”

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, police urged individuals who were still in the area to leave “as quickly and safely as possible” so that first responders could “facilitate treatment of the shooting victims,” though they urged witnesses to stick around so they could speak with police about what they saw. Lucas also urged people near Union Station to “calmly” leave the area as the law enforcement response continued.

Within minutes of the shooting, people who were in the area for the Chiefs’ victory celebration began sharing photos and videos of the unfolding chaos on social media. Some showed Chiefs fans running away from Union Station, while others showed first responders loading injured people onto stretchers.

An estimated 1 million people gathered near Kansas City’s Union Station on Wednesday to celebrate the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory on Feb. 11, according to CNN. The Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in a nail-biting game that went into overtime, with Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman scoring a final touchdown to end the game.

This season’s victory gave the Chiefs back-to-back Super Bowl wins, making them the first team since the New England Patriots in 2005 to secure two consecutive Super Bowl victories.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who attended the parade with his team, was quick to respond to the news of the shooting. In a post on X, Mahomes said he is “Praying for Kansas City.”

The Chiefs also shared a statement later Wednesday in response to the shooting.

“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally," the team said. "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City.”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife were among those who had gathered at Union Station for the victory parade. A statement released by Parson’s office said the governor and his wife were “safe and secure” as both local and state law enforcement officials responded to the shooting.

“As we wait to learn more, our hearts go out to the victims,” Parson’s statement said.

Parade reached out to the KCPD for further information.

This article has been updated with additional information.

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