A high school student has revealed that Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid comforted him after a shooting unfolded at the team's Super Bowl LVIII victory parade.
At least 22 people were shot and one person identified as mom-of-two and DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan was killed after gunmen opened fire inside Union Station in Kansas, Missouri shortly after 3:30PM, following the team's parade celebrations.
Among the injured, 11 children were being treated at Children's Mercy Kansas City, nine of them for gunshot wounds. All of them are expected to recover from their injuries, according to an update by the hospital's senior vice president Stephanie Meyer.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves disclosed in a press conference that three people were arrested in connection to the horror incident and are all currently under investigation.
Travis Kelce took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his support to all those affected by the shooting in an emotional post, writing: "I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me."
The Chiefs released a statement, penning: "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. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and all of Kansas City."
The NFL team added that "all of our players, coaches, staff and their families are safe and accounted for," while also sharing that they were in close contact with law enforcement officials and thanked first responders.
In the aftermath of the mass shooting, Gabe Wallace, a sophomore at Shawnee Mission East High School, was separated from his friends and frantic as he ran to safety inside Union Station, according to The New York Post.
There several people consoled Gabe, including the Chief's coach. "Andy Reid was trying to comfort me, which was nice," Wallace told the Kansas City Star.
"He was kind of hugging me, just like, 'Are you OK, man? Are you OK? Just please breathe.' He was being real nice and everything," the teenager continued. "He left to check on other people, I’m pretty sure."
Gabe was reunited with his friend half an hour later, but before that, he was wondering what had happened to them after the gunman opened fire.
"My friends are dead - that’s what’s going through my mind," Gabe said about his emotions not knowing what happened to his friends. "I’m literally thinking, 'What if my friends are dead? Are they alive, or are they just lying there on the floor just bleeding out?' I have no idea."
One shocking video shared on X (formerly Twitter) shows brave members of the public chasing a presumed gunman and pinning him to the ground.
In the clip, a father named Trey Filter leaped on the alleged criminal but they quickly wriggled free. However, the suspected gunman was then tackled again by a second Chiefs fan, who somersaulted on him. That's when Filter and two other fans all worked together to hold the suspect down until authorities arrived.
Watch the wild footage below:The heroic father spoke to The New York Post after the incident and revealed that he heard somebody shout "Get him!" seconds before he saw a flash of white speeding through the panicked crowd.
"My brain tells me, 'That must be him,'" he recalled. "I literally remember when I was tackling him, 'I sure hope this is who they were yelling at me to get.' Because I just went, 'boom!'… I really don’t recall seeing him coming."
Bystanders were yelling that the man had a gun, however, Filter's wife already obtained their assault weapon. The courageous men then waited until two or three officers ran to the scene and detained the person.
Cops have not released any details about the people taken into custody, possible motives for the shootings, or what kind of weapons were used.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
