Editor's note: Follow along here for updates on a shooting in Kansas City.
Less than half an hour after the conclusion of the parade Wednesday to celebrate the third Super Bowl in five seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs, a shooting near the city's Union Station left one person dead and at least 22 injured.
The shooting took place near the stage where players and coaches addressed the crowd, tarnishing the event. The team had left the stage well before the shooting and officials said later that all team personnel were safe.
Chiefs quarterback Blaine Gabbert, tackle Trey Smith, center Austin Reiter and quarterback Chris Oladukun helped calm frightened kids at Wednesday’s mass shooting. Smith even went to one kid and gave him a WWE title belt, according to a Sports Illustrated report that USA TODAY Sports confirmed.
All things Chiefs: Latest Kansas City Chiefs news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
“They are heroes,” Reiter’s agent Nodirbek Talipov said to USA TODAY Sports. “They risked their lives to attend to kids and calm them down without really knowing what’s coming next.” — Tyler Dragon
Interim Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said at a news conference that 22 people suffered gunshot wounds, including one fatality, eight with immediately life-threatening injuries, seven with life-threatening injuries, and six with minor injuries. Several people near the parade route were carried away on stretchers.
Lisa Augustine, spokesperson for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, said the hospital was treating 12 patients from the rally, including 11 children, some of whom suffered gunshot wounds.
Police Chief Stacey Graves said three people have been detained, but detectives are investigating whether one person was among a group of bystanders who assisted police and possibly tackled an assailant. — Minnah Arshad, Krystal Nurse
Wednesday evening, through their verified social media channels, the Chiefs issued a statement on the shooting.
“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 team said in the prepared statement. “Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City. We are in close communication with the Mayor’s office as well as the Kansas City Police Department.
“At this time, we have confirmed that all of our players, coaches, staff and their families are safe and accounted for. We thank the local law enforcement officers and first responders who were on-scene to assist.”
Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas said at a press conference Wednesday he has spoken to people within the Chiefs organization and all Chiefs players, coaches and staff were all accounted for after the shooting.
“We went out today like everyone in Kansas City, looking to have a celebration,” Lucas said. “That celebration was marred by a shooting today.
“This is absolutely a tragedy the likes of which we would have never expected in Kansas City and the likes of which we remember for some time.”
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed one person was killed and there are 10-15 people who were injured. Two suspects were apprehended.
“I'm angry at what happened today,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment. … This tragedy occurred even in the presence of uniformed law enforcement officers.”
— Jordan Mendoza
Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said eight to 10 people were injured. Several people near the parade route were carried away on stretchers.
At least 600 police officers were manning security for the parade route, local officials said. Several hundred thousand people were expected to attend the parade to celebrate the Chiefs' championship victory on Sunday.
Kevin Sanders, 53, of Lenexa, Kansas, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers and then people running. After that initial flurry, calm returned, and he didn’t think much of it. But he said 10 minutes later, ambulances started showing up.
“It sucks that someone had to ruin the celebration, but we are in a big city,” Sanders said.
Ofilio Martinez, 48, said he heard shots fired a couple blocks away about 10 or 15 minutes before the gunfire near the Union Station rally.
“This is making me nervous, scared,” he said.
— Minnah Arshad
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is “praying for Kansas City” after multiple people were shot following the team’s Super Bowl parade celebration on Wednesday.
Mahomes, who won his third career Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award Sunday in Super Bowl 58, posted his message alongside several prayer hand emojis.
Teammate Dru Tranquill added: “Please join me in prayer for all the victims in this heinous act. Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing.”
— Cydney Henderson
Less than half an hour after the conclusion of the Chiefs' Super Bowl parade, Kansas City police posted on their verified social media account that shots had been fired near Union Station, the site where the Chiefs had just taken the stage. Police urged people to “leave the area.”
In subsequent messages, police wrote that “multiple people were struck” and that two armed persons were taken into custody. According to police, the shooting took place west of Union Station, near a garage.
Kansas City police also said they were releasing everyone from Union Station as the investigation continues.
Coach Andy Reid was the first to speak after the entire team took the stage.
“How about this sea of red, let’s hear you, baby,” Reid told the crowd. “I’m so proud of this team behind me … through all the highs and lows, they kept persevering, and now we’re holding this trophy.”
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes eventually followed and — echoing the theme of the day — spoke about the team’s desire to become the first team in NFL history to win three consecutive Super Bowls.
“Kansas City let me hear you one time,” Mahomes said. “Man, what a year. To battle through the adversity, to continue to go. To go for that championship. They all doubted us. I don’t want to hear any different. But you know who came through and that’s the Kansas City Chiefs.”
Mahomes also shouted out the defense, special teams unit and other offensive players.
Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who had been set to become a free agent at the start of the new league year, hinted that he would be returning to the team.
“I got on this stage last and I said: ‘run it back, run it back,’ ” Jones said. “But you know what? I want that three-peat. And for those who want Chris Jones gone, I ain’t going nowhere, baby. I’m going to be here this year, and the year after that. I need that three-peat.”
By the time tight end Travis Kelce took the mic to make his much-anticipated comments, he didn’t get very far. Kelce, who had chugged beers and drank straight out of a tequila bottle as the parade snaked around Kansas City, asked the crowd to join along in singing country icon Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places.” He read the lyrics from his phone before someone turned up the volume of the actual song.
At 1:18 p.m. local time, Chiefs owner Clark Hunt took the stage to thank fans, support staff, players, general manager Brett Veach and head coach Andy Reid.
“When you talk about leaders, you talk about culture and you talk about a champion, it doesn’t get any better than Andy Reid. We’ve known that he’s going to be a future Hall of Famer, but he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves.” Hunt added that this might be “the best coaching job” of Reid’s career.
Hunt then ran through a number of captains and players who were instrumental in Kansas City’s run to its third Super Bowl in five years.
“And when the game is on the line, there is nobody better than Patrick Mahomes,” Hunt said.
Hunt said, perhaps with a nod to Taylor Swift, that the Chiefs are in their “championship era.”
As he made his way toward the end of the parade route, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player was walking u toward fans, holding the Lombardi Trophy in his left hand and a Coors Light in his right. He raised the trophy and gestured toward the crowd, getting them hyped up.
He later got back on a bus. As it rolled to Union Station, a fan threw a smaller foam football, which Mahomes caught with his left hand because he still had his beer in his right. He then threw it back, left handed. Just an instant later, a different fan threw a football that appeared to be regulation size. Mahomes also caught that one one-handed with his left and then tossed it right back.
The parade is slowly making its way to Union Station in Kansas City, where a stage has been constructed for players and coaches to make remarks. Safety Justin Reid not only had a wrestling-style championship belt, he also wore a T-shirt he designed and made popular this season, honoring defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. The dark gray shirt has several images of Spagnuolo and says "In Spags We Trust."
Running back Isiah Pacheco, who was a rookie last season, won his second consecutive Super Bowl in both seasons he has been in the league. He grabbed the microphone of the KSHB broadcast and shouted: "Two-for-Two" numerous times.
It appears as if many players have already filed out of their buses and have made their way to the end of the route, while a number are still interacting and celebrating with fans.
As the parade rolled through its route, players continued to spill out of their buses to interact with the fans who had been lined up. Near Union Station, where the parade will conclude, one fan held a sign that read: “Never In Doubt.”
Elsewhere along the route, linebacker Dru Tranquill, who signed with the Chiefs in March 2023 after four seasons with the Chargers, wore ski goggles and celebrated his arrival to Kansas City.
“This is way better than L.A.,” Tranquill said on the KSHB broadcast. “Oh my God, let me tell you. Look at these fans, you don’t see this happening in L.A.”
Several Chiefs players — safety Justin Reid and tight end Travis Kelce among them— had wrestling-style championship belts hooked around their waists.
Somewhere along the route, “Fight for Your Right,” the Beastie Boys song Kelce has embraced, played.
As the buses approached Union Station, rapper Tech N9ne, a native Kansas Citian, performed on stage.
“It has been amazing so far, amazing celebration,” defensive tackle Chris Jones said on the KSHB broadcast. “We’ve brought a lot of the city out, it feels good.”
When asked if it has sunk in that he’s a three-time champion, Jones didn't hold back about how much he and his teammates have been celebrating.
“It hasn’t,” he said, “I got to get sober for it to sink in.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid was seated at the front of one of the first double-decker buses, waving to the crowd, alongside franchise owner Clark Hunt. As the bus rolled past, Hunt had his right hand placed on the neck of the Lombardi Trophy while he waved at the crowd with his left hand.
From another bus, a staffer tossed red hats into the crowd as fans outstretched their arms to try to catch them. At the front of another, Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend, who had a busy and productive first half in Super Bowl 58, wore a light blue Kansas City Royals jersey and stood next to place kicker Harrison Butker. Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay got out of his bus, shirtless, and hi-fived fans. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, freshly inked to a contract extension, smoked a victory cigar.
Players took photos and videos with their phones, drank out of beer and champagne bottles, played catch with fans who tossed footballs their way. From the top of a few buses, some people tossed cream colored roses.
"Thank you so much Chiefs kingdom," guard Trey Smith said in an interview with KSHB Kansas City. "This is unbelievable, we couldn’t ask for fans any better than this."
Said receiver Mecole Hardman, the player who caught the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime: "I’m feeling great, we out here celebrating, baby, I love y’all."
At around 11:06 a.m. local time, the buses with Chiefs players and staffers started to roll toward the route. The double-decker buses are red with plenty of signage to celebrate Kansas City’s victory in Super Bowl 58.
On the sides of most buses are decals with the Chiefs logo, above which is the wording “World Champions.” On the front, just below the windshield, is lettering that said “BACK-TO-BACK,” commemorating the team’s consecutive titles.
As the parade started to make its way through the route, a flatbed with the franchise’s cheerleaders and the team’s drumline, the Chiefs Rumble, rolled through as confetti guns blasted red and yellow streamers into the air.
It will start around noon ET, 11 a.m. local time. The parade will conclude at Union Station, where a victory rally, complete with speeches by players and coaches, will be held, starting around 1:45 p.m. ET.
The Chiefs are live steaming the parade on their website. Watch here.
There's one thing that could make this party different from the others: a potential Taylor Swift appearance. Logistics, however, are not on her side. She has to be in Melbourne, Australia, which is 17 hours ahead of Kansas City, by 6 p.m. Friday for the first of three scheduled concerts on her Eras Tour. And the flight itself takes about 17 hours.
Regardless of whether Swift shows up, the crowd figures to be even larger than in the past because the weather will be unseasonably warm — with temperatures expected to be in the 60s. That's in stark contrast to last year, when the mercury didn't even crack 40, and wind chills made it feel below freezing.
Kansas City's quest for a three-peat is already underway.
The Chiefs announced they have agreed to a contract extension with defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who became a four-time Super Bowl champion after K.C.'s Super Bowl 58 victory. Details of the extension are not yet known.
Spagnuolo's defense played an instrumental role in the Chiefs' run to their third Super Bowl title in five seasons.
With just about 20 minutes left before the parade starts, players, coaches and family have started loading onto the buses that will take them through downtown to celebrate their Super Bowl title.
Not seen among them: Taylor Swift.
Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes was seen wearing his two Super Bowl rings, and Travis Kelce boarded the same bus along with his mom, Donna.
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