A blast of gunfire has killed at least one person and wounded 21 others in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, where the NFL champion Chiefs were celebrating their Super Bowl victory, sending crowds of fans scurrying for safety.
Police Chief Stacey Graves told a press conference on Wednesday three people were detained “and under investigation for today’s incident” outside the city’s landmark Union Station.
Graves said investigators had no known motive for the gun violence.
At least 22 people were struck by gunfire, one of them fatally. KKFI radio identified the deceased as Lisa Lopez, one of its disc jockeys and host of the show Taste of Tejano.
Fifteen victims suffered life-threatening injuries, Fire Department Chief Ross Grundyson said at a news conference.
Graves said she was aware of reports that some fans may have participated in the pursuit and capture of at least one of the suspects, and investigators were reviewing video of the incident.
Some 800 law enforcement officers were at the rally and parade that preceded it, including agents of the FBI and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
All of the Chiefs players, coaches and staff who attended the victory rally were accounted for and safe, the National Football League team said in a statement.
Hours after the bloodshed, authorities were still sorting out the precise number and details of casualties.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City treated a dozen patients from the rally, 11 of them juveniles, with nine victims suffering gunshot wounds, a hospital spokesperson said. Graves said during the news conference that no children were wounded.
At least five people injured in the shooting were taken to University Health hospital, according to a spokesperson there.
The barrage of gunshots, fired outside near a garage near the station, came at the end of the victory rally following a parade, according to police.
Video posted on social media showed pandemonium outside the station with dozens of uniformed police officers, weapons drawn, running into the building as scores of bystanders fled in the opposite direction.
Rapid-fire gunfire was audible in footage posted online by ABC News.
Union Station, a 109-year-old Beaux Arts building that once served as a major US rail hub for passenger and freight traffic, is home to a museum and visiting attractions today and a terminal for Amtrak passenger service.
Its website describes its vision to “be Kansas City’s iconic symbol of inclusion, inspiration, lifelong learning, and its centre for civic celebration.”
A statement from the NFL said: “We are deeply saddened by the senseless shooting that occurred in Kansas City today following the Chiefs’ celebration. Our thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected.”
Missouri Governor Mike Parson and his wife were in attendance when shots were fired near the train station, but were safe and secure following the incident, he said on X, thanking law enforcement for its response.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly was also present at the rally when the shots were fired.
The Chiefs on Sunday defeated the San Francisco 49ers in overtime to win the Super Bowl, 25-22.
