In a matter of seconds, the happy faces of Kansas City Chiefs fans turned into faces of absolute horror. A shooting caused panic at the victory celebration of Super Bowl 58, which was played in Las Vegas on Sunday. It was a moment of celebration for a city that has seen the arrival of American football's greatest trophy for the third time in five years, but a series of explosions turned the party atmosphere into tragedy. According to Police Chief Stacey Graves, there is at least one death and between 10 and 15 injuries. Three are in critical condition, according to Fire Chief Michael Hopkins. Two armed people were arrested.
“Shots were fired near Union Station. Please leave the area,” Kansas City police wrote on social media around 2:00 p.m. (local time). Minutes earlier, the Chiefs, winners of the final, had driven through the streets in an open-top bus to cheers. The parade ended in front of the train station in the city, which lies on the border between the states of Kansas and Missouri.
Families with children were also among the spectators. Those present, tens of thousands of people, were about to leave the scene when explosions were heard to the west of the building. “It sounded like fireworks, but the reaction of people was like a shooting,” said Neil Jones, a reporter for local television station KCTV on CBS. The shots rang out for only a few seconds.
“Down, down, everyone on the ground!” heard Lisa Money, one of the participants at the party. He thought it was a prank until he saw tactical police teams heading to where the noise was heard. “I couldn't believe it. Who would think of doing something like that? “It should be a day of celebration for everyone,” Money told the AP.
Kansas City fans during the celebratory parade after winning the Super Bowl. Reed Hoffmann (AP)
“People were running for their lives. I ran in all directions, I saw some people falling, some kids knocking them down,” Jones said live. The sports journalist witnessed three people being injured. One of them was taken to a hospital on a stretcher. “We still have to determine the total number of victims,” the police said. Three hospitals in the city are treating the injured.
The area was cordoned off by authorities minutes after the explosions. Hundreds of people watched the scene from hotel rooms around the square. Agents from the FBI and ATF, the agency that investigates firearms after the shootings, arrived at the station to investigate the events. Police used Union Station as a center to reunite children separated from their families in the chaos.
Authorities are still trying to figure out what happened. Police have asked witnesses to the shooting to come to a store on the corner of Main and Pershing streets to testify.
The players, including Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, had a few words of thanks to the fans. On stage were the entire team and some guests, such as Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife. Also the mayor of the city, Quinton Lucas, who was present with his partner and his mother.
“When the shooting started, like many others, I started running for cover. I saw a large number of security guards running towards the danger. We thank you for that,” Lucas said. Stacey Graves, the police chief, reported that about 800 officers from various companies provided security for the parade. “I am very upset by what happened today,” she said at a news conference.
One of the coaches, Rick Burkholder, confirmed that the Chiefs were riding a bus back to Arrowhead Stadium when the shooting occurred. “I’m praying for Kansas City,” Patrick Mahomes, the team’s star who just hours earlier had promised a city a third straight title, wrote in X.
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