‘I’m angry’: KC mayor, police chief speak on shooting near Super Bowl rally

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Like many others, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said he, his wife and mother ran for safety when shots rang out at the Chiefs Super Bowl rally.

“This is absolutely a tragedy, the likes of which we never would have expected in Kansas City, the likes of which we’ll remember for some time,” Lucas said Wednesday.

Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed at least one person died Wednesday after the shooting near Union Station. Over 20 were injured by gunfire.

Two armed suspects were arrested, and Graves later updated that a third suspect was taken into custody.

Social media users posted shocking video. One user’s video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.

Another video showed two onlookers chase down and tackle someone, holding that person down until two police officers arrived.

At an afternoon news conference, Lucas thanked law enforcement officers and first responders who ran toward danger to save lives.

Police did not immediately release any information about the three suspects detained or a motive for the shooting.

“I’m angry at what happened today. The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment,” Graves said.

Lucas, who attended the celebration with his wife and mother, said he was disappointed.

“We never would have thought that we — along with Chiefs players, along with fans, hundreds of thousands of people — would be forced to run for our safety today,” he said.

“I think the initial response absolutely is anger,” Lucas added.

Lucas, who has previously joined with mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, later noted there were over 800 law enforcement officers at the parade and rally, but still over 20 people were shot.

It is the latest sports celebration in the U.S. marred by gun violence, following a shooting last year in downtown Denver after the Nuggets’ winning an NBA championship that injured several people, and gunfire last year at a parking lot near the Texas Rangers’ World Series championship parade.

Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said he was with coach Andy Reid and other coaches and staff members at the time of the shooting, and that the team was on buses and returning to Arrowhead Stadium.

“Praying for Kansas City,” Chiefs quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.