A man who was filmed attacking one of three gunmen at the Super Bowl parade in Kansas City has detailed his exploits in a wide-ranging interview.
With his daughter, 46-year-old Paul Contreras recalled the adrenaline-fueled encounter, which 23-year-old Alyssa was able to capture on her phone just moments after her father jumped into action.
Visiting from Nebraska, Alyssa continued filming as the shooter was arrested – after seemingly trying to escape the hectic scene on foot.
Several parade-goers within earshot noticed this and shouted for others to stop his advance. Contreras heard those calls and didn't think twice before lunging at the suspect, he said.
Officers, meanwhile, said they had handcuffed two other people but had not yet contacted Contreras, he said. He recalled watching a gun fall from the suspect's hand after police officers said they seized at least one assault weapon at one of the crime scenes. Their investigation is still ongoing and all suspects are now in custody.
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Together with his daughter, 46-year-old Paul Contreras recalled the encounter that 23-year-old Alyssa was able to capture on her cell phone as her father jumped into action.
Alyssa continued to film the shooter's arrest – after he apparently tried to flee on foot
“One guy yelled and said, 'Stop him – catch him, tackle him, whatever,'” Contreras recalled, while footage from others showed the actual attack in real time.
“And he barely walks,” he continued. “And out of nowhere I hear this guy yelling, so I'm just like, 'Okay, I'm here.'
The dutiful father continued: “I haven't thought about it.” It's just a reaction. I didn't hesitate – just do it.'
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, police officers arrived to help the good Samaritan.
He then described the entire ordeal in detail, recalling how he and another man took it upon themselves to protect the rest of the crowd shortly after gunfire erupted.
Contreras told his home station KETV 7 Omaha, “So I went to attack him and another gentleman did the same thing.”
“And as I'm attacking him,” he continued, “I see that a gun has fallen either out of his hand or out of his sleeve – because he was wearing a long jacket, like a Carhartt.”
“When I see that hit the ground,” he continued, “then I think, you know, we have to take this guy down.”
Alyssa Marsh-Contreras attended the Chiefs parade with her father, Paul, who allegedly attacked the shooter.
Alyssa recorded this video of one of the shooters being arrested by local police. pic.twitter.com/S4A3Vm10S1
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) February 14, 2024
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, police officers arrived to help the good Samaritan
General view of Union Station, where the shooting occurred, shortly after the team took the stage around 3:30 p.m
“And so I did, like I said, and another good Samaritan did, and we held him,” Contreras said, his daughter looking visibly distraught as he spoke.
He continued, “And it seemed like an eternity, but it was probably 30 seconds of him holding him down.”
“And me and the other gentleman yelling, 'Where are the cops?' You know, 'Get the police here, get the police here.' We got him.”'
Within a minute, he said, officers arrived – and were filmed by Alyssa and several others quickly pouncing on the suspect.
The man, who has yet to be identified, appears to be at least one of three believed to have carried out the attack, which occurred shortly after the Patrick Mahomes-led team took the stage around 3:30 p.m.
Contreras and his daughter recalled that gunshots were heard at that time, leading to the unrest that culminated in him encountering one of the suspected shooters.
Others present were able to capture Contreras and his unknown accomplice's actions from various angles.
Others present were able to capture Contreras and his unknown accomplice's actions from various angles
They can be seen dragging the suspected shooter to the ground before proudly announcing: “We have the weapon.” Here police officers can be seen coming to the aid of the two men
Paul went on to tell the ABC affiliate that during the fight he saw a gun fall from a suspected shooter's hand
“We fight each other, you know? We fight to keep him down and he fights to get back up.
“You can't be afraid, you know,” he said, as KETV later reported that the father and daughter were on their way back to Omaha. “I'm not saying you want it to happen, but there's always a chance. It could happen.” Work, at the grocery store. That happened to be the Super Bowl parade.
They can be seen dragging the suspected shooter to the ground before announcing: “We have the gun.”
Paul went on to tell the ABC affiliate that he saw a gun fall from one of the suspected shooters' hands during the fight.
“The whole time he was fighting to get up and run away,” he remembers.
“We fight each other, you know? We're fighting to keep him down and he's fighting to get back up.'
Given the life-threatening connotations of the dispute, he said he remained calm.
“You can't be afraid, you know,” he said when KETV later reported that the father and daughter were on their way back to Omaha.
“I'm not saying you want it to happen, but there's always a chance.” “It could happen at work, at the grocery store,” he said. “That happened to be the Super Bowl Parade.”
Meanwhile, the police investigation is still ongoing and, apart from the arrests, has not yet produced anything concrete.
Over 800 police officers, including 600 from the Kansas City Police Department, were called and more than 21 people were injured.
The Kansas City Star reported that 44-year-old DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan was the only fatality in the incident after close friends confirmed that the mother of two died from a gunshot wound to the stomach during surgery at a hospital.
The suspects' motives were still unclear Wednesday, and police are expected to issue an update in the coming hours. At least nine children were among the injured.