One individual was killed and a number of youngsters have been amongst 21 injured after a mass taking pictures on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday triggered panic amongst big crowds of followers.
Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, which takes sufferers as much as the age of 17, mentioned it was treating 12 individuals — 11 of them youngsters, 9 for gunshot wounds — after the taking pictures, which unfolded simply moments after Chiefs gamers had addressed an enormous crowd of cheering supporters gathered close by.
Police mentioned three individuals had been taken into custody after the incident, however the motive and circumstances behind the taking pictures have been nonetheless beneath investigation.
Kansas City fireplace division chief Ross Grundyson informed a press convention that lots of the victims had sustained “life-threatening injuries.”
“We had eight what we considered immediately life-threatening patients, we had seven with life-threatening injuries, and had six that had minor injuries,” Grundyson mentioned.
After photographs rang out, shocked followers scrambled to flee to security as police labored to clear Union Station in a tragic finish to what had been a joyous morning of celebration to salute the NFL champions.
Paul Contreras, who was on the rally along with his three daughters, mentioned he tackled and disarmed one of many suspected shooters earlier than the police arrived.
“I got the right angle on him and I hit him from behind. And when I hit him from behind, I either jarred the gun out of his hand or out of his sleeve,” Contreras mentioned on CNN. “I take him down, and I’m putting all my body weight on him. And then another good Samaritan comes over and is helping me.”
Victims have been handled mendacity on the bottom earlier than being carried away on stretchers as crowds streamed previous.
“I’m angry at what happened today,” Kansas City Police chief Stacey Graves mentioned. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment,” the police chief added.
Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas was amongst VIPs on the occasion who have been despatched operating for canopy after photographs rang out.
“This is a day that a lot of people look forward to. Something they remember for a lifetime. And what they shouldn’t have to remember is the threat of gun violence,” Lucas mentioned.
The Chiefs in the meantime condemned the taking pictures as mindless.
“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the franchise mentioned in a press release.
“Praying for Kansas City,” City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote on social media.
Huge crowds
Just moments earlier than the taking pictures, Mahomes and his teammates had been absorbing the adulation from a sea of red-shirted followers.
There had been no trace of hassle as tons of of 1000’s of partying supporters feted Chiefs gamers alongside a two-mile (three-kilometer) route in a procession of double-decker buses, enveloped by a blizzard of crimson and gold confetti.
Local officers mentioned a couple of million individuals have been anticipated for the parade, which was held in unseasonably sunny, heat circumstances in downtown Kansas City.
Gun violence isn’t unusual at large-scale sporting victory celebrations in North America.
Last yr, 10 individuals have been wounded after a taking pictures which erupted in Denver amid followers celebrating the Denver Nuggets’ NBA championship victory.
In 2019, 4 individuals have been injured after gunfire broke out close to a parade to honor the Toronto Raptors’ NBA Finals victory in Toronto.
Mass shootings are additionally frequent within the United States, the place there are extra weapons than individuals and a couple of third of adults personal a firearm.
The Chiefs have been celebrating their third Super Bowl title in 5 seasons after beating the San Francisco 49ers in time beyond regulation in Las Vegas on Sunday to cement the group’s dynasty standing.
The group’s most well-known fan — music celebrity Taylor Swift, who’s relationship Chiefs icon Travis Kelce — was not a part of the celebrations.
The singer, whose relationship with Kelce grew to become a cultural phenomenon, rushed again to the United States on Saturday from the newest leg of her money-spinning world tour to attend Sunday’s Super Bowl.
As Kelce and the Chiefs celebrated on Wednesday, Swift was reportedly en path to Australia the place she is because of carry out in Melbourne on Friday. —Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
