Chaos unfolded during the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday as gunfire erupted, leaving several people injured.
According to Capt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department, the incident occurred after the rally, near the garage west of Union Station.
“At the conclusion of the rally, there were shots fired west of Union Station near the garage, and several people were struck,” Capt. Jake Becchina stated.
According to Kansascity.com, officers detained two armed individuals for further investigation. The outlet reported that the police department took to social media to issue a warning, urging people to exit the area swiftly and safely, specifically advising against using the parking garage to facilitate the treatment of the victims.
The incident occurred as officials anticipated at least 1 million people to attend the parade following the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“Shots have been fired around Union Station. Please leave the area,” the Kansas City Police Department tweeted on X. Authorities said the extent of the injuries remains unclear, but initial reports from scanner traffic suggested that there might be as many as 20 people injured.
Eyewitnesses went on local television news stations and described the panic that followed the gunshots. Sam Castro, an 18-year-old University of Kansas student, told local reporters that he witnessed people running out of Union Station just before 2 p.m.
“We just got here, so it’s kind of crazy,” he said.
One parade-goer, Shawn Grew, 46, of Garden City, reported hearing a single shot near a security post east of the stage. “It was someone within feet of me,” he told Kansascity.com. His daughter, Alyssa, 21, had already entered Union Station while he was still waiting.
A couple from Phoenix, Lupe and Brian, also shared their account of the incident, stating that they saw people running out of Union Station after the program had concluded. Standing on the southeastern side of Union Station, the couple heard a single gunshot and immediately sought cover behind a nearby tree.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly was among those evacuated from the rally site. She later reassured the public on X that she was out of harm’s way and urged everyone to follow instructions and updates from the police.
Law enforcement said the investigation is expected to continue and that public safety remains the top priority.
