What was supposed to be a festive and lively celebration following the Kansas City Chiefs' victory in Kansas City ended in tragedy. The team, the brand new winner of the last edition of the Super Bowl, was received with all the honors in their city, where a parade full of music, cheers and color was organized; which, however, was interrupted by a shooting that left one person dead and 21 injured.
Local police have so far arrested three people for their alleged connection with the attack and the team's players are trying to process what happened. Two of the stars of the Kansas City Chiefs, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, have spoken out about the tragedy.
Kelce, the team's tight end, noted on the social network , You mean a lot to me".
The team's quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, also wanted to send a message of support and condolences for what happened, ensuring that he was "praying for Kansas City."
The Kansas City Chiefs also reacted with a statement: "We are saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred at the conclusion of today's parade. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and all of Kansas City."
The singer Taylor Swift, girlfriend of Travis Kelce, has not commented on the matter. The artist also did not attend the team's celebrations last Wednesday.
Among the 21 gunshot wounds, eight were in a very serious situation and in danger of death. Seven of them had life-threatening injuries, while the rest were out of danger, according to the Chief of the Kansas City Fire Department, Ross Grundyson, in a press conference.
The deceased was identified as Lisa López-Galán, a well-known DJ in the city and mother of two children. The woman died in the hospital from injuries sustained in the shooting, according to The Kansas City Star. The total number of victims is not definitive and may still increase, police sources warned.
According to the head of the local Police Department, Stacey Graves, three people are detained as suspects, one of them after being subdued by parade attendees. Graves also assured that there were nearly 800 agents in the event's security detail. In the state of Missouri it is legal to carry weapons on the street.
The event took place in the vicinity of the Kansas City central train station, the point where the celebration parade was scheduled to end and where numerous fans and followers of the team had gathered. After the shooting, many users rushed to show their discontent, once again, for the free use of weapons in the United States.
"2023 was the deadliest year in the history of Kansas City. The laws do not require that you must carry a permit to buy or carry weapons. There were no security points in the parade," insists a user on X. "There are nine children being treated for gunshot wounds after the parade. What more needs to be done to ban weapons?" insists another. "Missouri severely restricts the ability of local governments to enact their own firearms regulations," warns another.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, also spoke out on the matter, calling for immediate action against gun violence. The president stressed that "it deeply hurts the American soul" that the celebration of the Super Bowl victory, "the most unifying event in the United States," turns into a tragedy.
Biden said "it's time to act" and called on citizens to pressure Congress to "ban assault weapons, limit high-capacity magazines, strengthen background checks and keep guns out of the hands of those who don't have to." possess or manipulate them".
"The epidemic of gun violence is destroying families and communities every day. Some are news. Many of them are not. But all of this is unacceptable. We have to decide who we are as a country," the president added.
