A blast of gunfire killed one person and wounded as many as 15 at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade on Wednesday, police have said.
Two suspects were arrested following the shooting outside a landmark railroad station, where NFL champion Chiefs were celebrating their Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers.
Police Chief Stacey 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, but that was unconfirmed.
All of the Chiefs players, coaches and staff who attended the victory rally were accounted for and safe, Mayor Quinton Lucas told reporters.
"Shots were fired west of Union Station near the garage and multiple people were struck," Kansas City police said on X. "We took two armed people into custody for more investigation."
Children's Mercy Kansas City received patients from the incident and invited parents to contact the medical center if they believe their child might be in their care.
Police also asked witnesses to the shooting to go to a corner near Union Station.
Footage posted on social media showed dozens of uniformed police officers, weapons drawn, running into the station as members of the public fled in the opposite direction.
The station once served as a US rail hub for passenger and freight traffic but is now home to a museum.
The University of Kansas Health System was treating one person wounded in the shooting, said Jill Jensen Chadwick, news director for the health system.
"When you have this many casualties, it's going to get spread out among a lot of hospitals so that you don't overwhelm one single ER," she said.
NFL video from the Super Bowl celebration showed Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce on stage with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other teammates, but Kelce's pop superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was back on tour in Australia at the time.
Mahomes said on X: "Praying for Kansas City," followed by several praying-hands emojis.
Chiefs linebacker Drue Tranquill, who was at the parade, asked on social media for prayers: "Pray that doctors & first responders would have steady hands & that all would experience full healing."
Central Kansas City was a sea of red on Wednesday for Valentine's Day as Chiefs fans celebrated their third Super Bowl title in five seasons.
Crowds lined the route, with fans climbing trees and street poles, or standing on rooftops for a better view.
