Gunfire erupted during a celebration in Kansas City, Missouri, following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade and rally.
According to Kansas City police, one person was murdered and at least 21 were injured by gunfire during the shooting.
The incident happened west of Union Station, near the garage, as Chiefs fans were departing, according to police. According to authorities, three people have been detained as part of the investigation into the incident.
The march on Wednesday was expected to draw approximately one million people. Several people described the dread and panic that ensued after the incident.
Julie Mobley told ABC News that she believed she heard fireworks after the Chiefs players had done speaking. Then her daughter drew her to the ground.
“It was very scary,” said Mobley, who missed work to attend the parade with her kid. “To have something like this was absolutely horrible.”
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Mary Althiser, who was in the parade with Mobley, likewise ducked to the ground.
“At first it didn’t seem like anything but then you saw this huge rush of crowd trying to jump in to where you were,” Althiser said in an interview with ABC News.
Arnold Sauther, a paradegoer, claimed that after the rally, the Chiefs went into Union Station, and people followed them to grab autographs.
“Then, all of a sudden they all started running out, and you see all these policemen come running in there — and you knew something happened in the station,” Sauther told Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC.
“People started crashing forward, everybody started running, and there was screaming,” a New Hampshire visitor told KMBC. “We didn’t know what was happening, but in this day and age when people run, you run.”
She stated that they sought safety near an elevator and “prayed.”
“There was yelling, and we weren’t sure if it was safe to go, so we attempted to block the doors. We heard the elevator start to move, so we opened the doors and went out; there were officers present,” she added. “I’ve never been so glad to see an officer in my life.”
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Witness Jennifer Wilbers told KMBC that she heard gunfire and began fleeing.
“We look over and there’s a guy next to us on the ground,” she explained to the broadcaster.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves termed the incident a “tragedy.” Authorities are currently determining the number of victims in the event, she said.
The chief stated the motive is still being investigated.
Gene Hamilton told ABC News that he is concerned about how gun violence could affect young paradegoers.
“I look at the kids. Hamilton added, “They have to grow up with this, which is very disturbing.” “This is a celebration.”
Paradegoer Zachary Dial told ABC News that he and his family were stranded and unable to reach their car due to a lockout following the shooting.
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“I just wanted to make sure my woman and niece were okay, and that we could go home securely. “I feel sorry for those who didn’t,” Dial stated.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended the parade with his wife and mother, was also among those who fled for safety.
“We never imagined that we, along with Chiefs players, fans, and hundreds of thousands of others, would be forced to flee to our safety today,” he stated during a news briefing on Wednesday.
He stated he is “heartbroken” for the victims and families.
“This is a day that a lot of people look forward to, something they remember for a lifetime,” he told reporters. “And what they shouldn’t have to remember is the threat of gun violence marring a day like this, injuring them and their families.”