Kansas City Chiefs denounce ‘senseless violence’ at Super Bowl victory parade | Kansas City Chiefs

The NFL and the Kansas City Chiefs have denounced the mass shooting that killed one and injured nearly two dozen people, including at least eight children, during Wednesday’s Super Bowl parade celebrating the team’s victory as a “senseless act of violence”.

“We are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station at the conclusion of today’s parade and rally,” the Chiefs said in a statement.

The Kansas City police chief, Stacey Graves, offered slim details of the shooting during a Wednesday evening news conference, saying three people were taken into custody. She said she has heard that fans were possibly involved in capturing an expected shooter but could not immediately confirm that.

Police did not immediately release any details about the people taken into custody or about a possible motive for the shootings. Graves said firearms had been recovered, but did not say what kind.

The Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, posted on Twitter/X that he was “praying for Kansas City”, while a teammate, Drue Tranquill, encouraged people to “pray that doctors and first responders would have steady hands and that all would experience full healing”. Tight end Travis Kelce said that he was “heartbroken”.

“My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me,” he wrote on Twitter/X.

After the shooting, Kansas City Chiefs players reportedly left the parade on buses while trying to calm scared children. The NFL team confirmed that all of its players, staff and families were safe.

Chiefs guard Trey Smith posted on X: “My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by today’s incidents – a huge thank you to the first responders who ran towards the sound of danger. You’re the ones who should be celebrated today.”

In a statement also posted 0n X, the NFL said it “was deeply saddened of the senseless shooting” and their “thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected”.

Wednesday’s shooting outside Union Station happened despite more than 800 police officers who were in the building and around the area, including on top of nearby buildings, said Quinton Lucas, the Kansas City mayor, who attended with his wife and mother and had to run for cover when gunfire broke out.

“I think that’s something that all of us who are parents, who are just regular people living each day, have to decide what we wish to do about,” Lucas said. “Parades, rallies, schools, movies. It seems like almost nothing is safe.”

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