The NFL and the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have denounced the mass capturing that killed one and injured almost two dozen individuals, together with not less than eight youngsters, throughout Wednesday’s Tremendous Bowl parade celebrating the crew’s victory as a “mindless act of violence”.
“We’re actually saddened by the mindless act of violence that occurred exterior of Union Station on the conclusion of at the moment’s parade and rally,” the Chiefs stated in a press release.
The Kansas Metropolis police chief, Stacey Graves, supplied slim particulars of the capturing throughout a Wednesday night information convention, saying three individuals have been taken into custody. She stated she has heard that followers have been presumably concerned in capturing an anticipated shooter however couldn’t instantly verify that.
Police didn’t instantly launch any particulars concerning the individuals taken into custody or a few doable motive for the shootings. Graves stated firearms had been recovered, however didn’t say what variety.
The Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, posted on Twitter/X that he was “praying for Kansas Metropolis”, whereas a teammate, Drue Tranquill, inspired individuals to “pray that docs and first responders would have regular fingers and that each one would expertise full therapeutic”. Tight finish Travis Kelce stated that he was “heartbroken”.
“My coronary heart is with all who got here out to rejoice with us and have been affected. KC, you imply the world to me,” he wrote on Twitter/X.
After the capturing, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs gamers reportedly left the parade on buses whereas attempting to calm scared youngsters. The NFL crew confirmed that each one of its gamers, workers and households have been protected.
Chiefs guard Trey Smith posted on X: “My ideas and prayers are with everybody affected by at the moment’s incidents – an enormous thanks to the primary responders who ran in the direction of the sound of hazard. You’re those who ought to be celebrated at the moment.”
In a press release additionally posted 0n X, the NFL stated it “was deeply saddened of the mindless capturing” and their “ideas are with the victims and everybody affected”.
Wednesday’s capturing exterior Union Station occurred regardless of greater than 800 cops who have been within the constructing and across the space, together with on high of close by buildings, stated Quinton Lucas, the Kansas Metropolis mayor, who attended along with his spouse and mom and needed to run for canopy when gunfire broke out.
“I believe that’s one thing that each one of us who’re dad and mom, who’re simply common individuals residing every day, need to determine what we want to do about,” Lucas stated. “Parades, rallies, faculties, films. It looks as if virtually nothing is protected.”
It’s the newest sports activities celebration within the US to be marred by gun violence, following a capturing that injured a number of individuals final 12 months in downtown Denver after the Nuggets’ NBA championship, and gunfire final 12 months at a car parking zone close to the Texas Rangers’ World Sequence championship parade.