- At least one person has died after shots were fired on the sidelines of a victory parade by the Kansas City Chiefs football team, according to police in Kansas City (USA).
- In addition, more than 20 people were injured, according to the police. Nine children were also injured.
- According to initial findings, the crime did not have a terrorist background, but was the result of a dispute.
According to Kansas City police, three perpetrators opened fire near the Union Station parking lot shortly after the Super Bowl winner spoke to supporters.
One fatality
It remains unclear whether the crime was connected to the victory parade. TV images showed how the event site was evacuated. All Kansas City Chiefs players, coaches and staff are safe, said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.
According to reports, the victim was an employee of a local radio station. There has so far been no official confirmation of this from the police or authorities.
Argument ended in shooting
At the big parade, the Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their fourth Super Bowl title, which they won three days ago in the game against the San Francisco 49ers. The team around star quarterback Patrick Mahomes drove three kilometers through the city on open buses and proudly presented the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the tens of thousands of fans on the side of the road.
According to police findings, the fatal shots have no terrorist background. “It appeared to be an argument between several people that ended in a shootout,” said Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves. Several suspects are in custody, two of them are teenagers.
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Legend: Shots were fired on the sidelines of the Kansas City Chiefs football team’s Super Bowl victory parade in the US state of Missouri. Keystone/DAVE KAUP
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Caption: People in Kansas City try to get through the barriers on the street where the parade was taking place. USA TODAY Sports/David Rainey
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Legend: According to police reports, at least one person was killed and over 20 people were injured. AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann
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Legend: The Kansas City Chiefs celebrated their Super Bowl victory on open buses in the parade in Kansas City. EPA/Dave Kaup
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Caption: Tens of thousands of fans attended the Kansas City Chiefs celebration. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Since many schools remained closed that day, there were also numerous children among the fans. Nine children were also injured. The police did not provide any information about the condition of the injured. According to US media, three of the injured are in critical condition.
Kansas City Chiefs reactions
“We are deeply affected by this senseless act of violence,” the Chiefs said in a statement: “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and all of Kansas City.” The NFL Germany also expressed its condolences and thanked the rescue workers and law enforcement authorities for “the quick and careful response”.
“I’m praying for Kansas City,” wrote Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs on X (formerly Twitter). “My heart is broken,” wrote Travis Kelce on X, who had spoken with his teammates to the countless cheering fans shortly before the shooting.
The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25:22 after overtime in Las Vegas in the National Football League final on Sunday. The Chiefs had already won the so-called Vince Lombardi Trophy in 1970, 2020 and 2023. According to the media, superstar Taylor Swift did not accompany her boyfriend Travis Kelce to the parade and victory speeches in Kansas City, unlike on Sunday.