The shooting allegedly stemmed from a dispute near the Chiefs parade, leaving one dead and 23 injured

By Isaiah Miesle and Justin Malone, Staff Writer and World News Editor

Two teenagers and two adults have been charged for crimes in connection to the mass shooting near the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade that killed one person and wounded 23 others last Wednesday. 

According to the Jackson County Family Court, the two teenage suspects are being held at a juvenile detention center on  charges of firearm violations and resisting arrest. The suspects have not been publicly identified since they are minors. 

Dominic Miller and Lyndell Mays, two Missouri residents, were charged with murder in the shooting yesterday. Authorities say that the men began arguing near the city’s Union Station as the parade ended, and their dispute escalated when both men pulled out guns and fired at each other, killing a bystander. 

Both men are currently hospitalized. Police also said that several guns were recovered near the parade.

“I know more investigation and potentially further charges are ahead as we pursue justice for all impacted,” Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said following the announcements.

Missouri law currently has no age restrictions on gun use and possession, although federal law prohibits minors from carrying handguns.  

The eruption of violence came as thousands of people gathered to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Approximately 800 law enforcement officers were stationed in and around the parade for safety.

Many witnesses described the scene as chaotic as people fled in different directions to avoid the gunfire. The sound of gunshots sent crowds scrambling for cover, and many attendees said that it was hard to know where to go to avoid harm.

A widely circulated video shows Trey Filter, a Chiefs fan from Kansas, and another unidentified fan tackling an armed individual fleeing the parade.

“What happened was an unnecessary and horrible tragedy, and I offer my deepest condolences to those affected by the events of that day,” Morgan Naranjo, a senior criminal justice major whose friends were at the parade when the shooting happened, said.

“I cannot describe the panic that sets in when you only know the last time someone was seen alive, have zero idea where they are now, and praying that they didn’t get caught in the crossfire,” she said.

Police said that the victims ranged in age from eight to 47, with half of the victims being  under the age of 16.

Following the shooting, the Kansas City Fire Department transported the injured to three local hospitals, including Children’s Mercy Hospital where 12 children were taken. According to hospital representatives, all the injured children are expected to recover. 

Lisa Lopez-Galvin, a local radio DJ, was killed in the shooting. Taylor Swift, who is currently dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, donated $100,000 to a GoFundMe for the Lopez-Galvan family.

Many Chiefs players posted messages on social media telling their followers that they are praying for the victims. Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire sheltered a child after the shooting and responded to a Facebook post thanking the child for trusting him. 

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted on X that he was “praying for Kansas City.”

The Chiefs worked with a local branch of the nonprofit United Way to create a $200,000 emergency fund for victims, in conjunction with the Lamar Hunt Foundation and the National Football League.

President Joe Biden also called for more action and legislation to address gun violence, saying that the incident “cuts deep into the American soul.”

The shooting marks the latest sports celebration affected by gun violence in the U.S., following a shooting that injured several people at the Denver Nuggets’ championship parade and gunfire near the Texas Rangers’ championship parade last year.

Kansas City was ranked in the top nine cities for gun violence in 2020. In 2023, the number of homicides due to gun violence reached a record high in the city.