Missouri Republican Hears About Kansas City Shooting on Live TV

Representative Mark Alford, a Missouri Republican, heard about a shooting near the Kansas City Chief's Super Bowl victory parade for the first time while on live TV on Wednesday.

CNN's Boris Sanchez said on CNN News Central, "CNN has just confirmed that shots were fired at the parade celebrating the Chiefs' win in Kansas City."

Sanchez then asks Alford, "Congressman, do you know anything about this shooting? Is there any information that you've come across that you can share with us?"

"No, Boris. That's the first I've heard of it," Alford responded.

The Context:

Several people were shot in Kansas City, Missouri, near a parade route following a celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs Superbowl win on Wednesday. On Sunday, the Chiefs beat the San Franciso 49ers in overtime with a score of 25 to 22.

A total of 10 to 15 people were shot, including one who died, according to Kansas City, Missouri Police Department Chief Stacey Graves. Two armed suspects were detained after the shooting, according to local police.

What We Know:

CNN News Central showed video of the scene, in which people were filmed exiting the area.

"If you're looking at the city there that is Union Station in downtown Kansas City. A very historic place," Alford said. "We gathered there in 2015 for the ... victory celebration of the Kansas City Royals winning the World Series. I was there last year sitting on the third row as we celebrated the Chiefs victory in Superbowl 57."

He continued: "It is very sad to know that Stacey Graves, the chief of police there who is fairly new, is now having to respond and it looks like in some active duty situation right now."

"This was a fear that I had and I know that law enforcement, the FBI, they have spent over a million dollars this year ... to try to secure this ... this is not good news for Kansas City," Alford said. "Hopefully there is no one who has because of this shooting, but I know it's very disheartening. We should be able to come together in situations like this and celebrate victories."

Newsweek reached out to Alford's office via email for comment.

The Views:

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas called the shooting a "tragedy" during a press conference on Wednesday, adding that his is "heartbroken."

"I'm angry at what happened today," Chief Graves said at the press conference.

People reacted to the shooting and ongoing gun violence in America on social media.

Gun violence remains a hot-button issue in America during this election year with gun rights advocates worrying about gun regulations infringing on their 2nd Amendment rights and gun control advocates wanting stricter laws to prevent more gun deaths.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "Praying for Kansas City."

"There's nothing more American than football, except a mass shooting," X user Alejandra Caraballo wrote.

X user Robert Griffin III wrote, "Kids can't go to school. Believers can't go to church. Families can't go to the grocery store. Friends can't go to a concert. And now fans can't go to a SUPER BOWL PARADE without the real fear of being a part of a mass shooting in America. WHAT ARE WE DOING?"

What's Next?

Local police have yet to release the identities of those detained or any victims.

"We are still gathering information on the number and status of victims," the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department told Newsweek via email on Wednesday.

"We need people to exit the area as quickly and safely as possible and avoid the parking garage in order to facilitate treatment of shooting victims," the department said, adding that officers "are working to provide for the safety of everyone inside union station and expedite care of those injured."

Update 2/14/24, 4:17 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 2/14/24, 4:44 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.

Update 2/14/24, 5:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.