2 Juveniles Charged In Kansas City Chiefs Parade Shooting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) Two juveniles were charged with crimes connected to the mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally , authorities said Friday, as the city tries to recover in the aftermath of the violence.

A news release from the Jackson County Family Court said the juveniles were charged Thursday and are being detained in the countys Juvenile Detention Center on gun-related and resisting arrest charges. The release said it is anticipated that additional charges are expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues.

No further information was released. Juvenile court cases are largely kept private under Missouri law, and hearings are not open to the public.

Police initially detained three juveniles but released one who they determined wasnt involved in the shooting. Police are looking for others who may have been involved and are calling for witnesses, victims and people with cellphone video of the violence to call a dedicated hotline.

Meanwhile, Kansas Citians are turning to religious gathers, vigils and counseling to try to cope with the horror of what happened.

A mother and popular disc jockey died in the burst of gunfire  Wednesday as the parade and rally were concluding, and 22 others more than half of them children were injured. By Friday, two people remained in critical condition and one was in serious condition. Most of the injured children were out of the hospital and expected to recover.

But the emotional recovery is only just beginning in a community horrified that two juveniles could cause such trauma. Police believe a dispute between several people  led to the shooting.

The slain woman  was identified by radio station KKFI-FM as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, host of Taste of Tejano. At a vigil honoring her Thursday night, Councilwoman Ryana Parks-Shaw said the city is working to offer support to those who are struggling.

Remember that we are not defined by this tragedy, Parks-Shaw said, the Kansas City Star  reported. We are defined by our courage, our strength and our unwavering spirits. Hold on to hope. Lean on one another. And know that a brighter tomorrow awaits.

The Jackson County Prosecuting Attorneys Office set up in-person counseling for the traumatized. Twelve people attended Thursday, including two children, spokesman Michael Mansur said Friday. The agency also established a hotline offering counseling, but Mansur didnt immediately have information on how many called the hotline.

The Chiefs won their third Super Bowl in five years  Sunday, beating the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. The two previous celebrations went off without any trouble.

On Wednesday, players rode double-decker red buses through Missouris largest city. The parade ended with a rally at the sprawling Union Station. It was just breaking up with shots erupted. Many people thought they were hearing fireworks. Eventually, some ducked for cover. Others leapt over barriers and sprinted, many carrying children.

Beyond the gunshot wounds, several people were treated at hospitals for injuries suffered amid the chaos. So many personal belongings were left behind that police set up a site for people to try and find what they lost.

Two men at the rally jumped on and detained someone with a gun, though police have not confirmed whether it was one of the people arrested.

Paul Contreras of Bellevue, Nebraska, said he heard a man yelling to stop someone and was able to tackle the person from behind. Contreras noticed that the person he tackled had a gun, he said, and he wasnt sure if he might have another under a heavy jacket.

Soon, Contreras was joined by another man.

Were like, we got to keep him down until law enforcement gets there. Because as much as were fighting to keep him down, hes fighting to get up, Contreras, whose daughter captured it all on video, told The Associated Press.

The man who helped Contreras was Trey Filter . He was with his family when he heard yells of get him.

We was like, We got him, Filter, 40, of the Wichita, Kansas, area, told AP. Ill always remember that. And then they started screaming, Theres a gun!

The gun fell near his wife, Casey Filter, who picked it up. By then, the fleeing person was under a dogpile.

The shooting occurred despite the presence of more than 800 police officers in the area, including on top of nearby structures, said Mayor Quinton Lucas, who attended with his wife and mother and ran for safety when the shots were fired. But he doesnt expect to cancel the upcoming St. Patricks Day parade.

We have parades all the time. I dont think theyll end. Certainly we recognized the public safety challenges  and issues that relate to them, Lucas said.

Taylor Swift , who is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, donated $100,000 to Lopez-Galvans family. Two $50,000 donations were posted Friday under the singers name on a GoFundMe page. Swifts representative confirmed the donations to Variety,  the trade publication reported, and The Associated Press independently verified the posts.

Kansas City has long struggled with gun violence, and in 2020 it was among nine cities  targeted by the U.S. Justice Department in an effort to crack down on violent crime. In 2023, the city matched a record with 182 homicides, most of which involved guns.

Lucas has joined with mayors across the country in calling for new laws to reduce gun violence, including mandating universal background checks.

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Salter reported from OFallon, Missouri. McFetridge reported from Des Moines, Iowa.