A 10-year-old victim of yesterday’s Kansas City shooting during the Super Bowl holiday parade described the terrifying moment he was shot.
Samuel Arellano went to the parade on Wednesday with his grandfather, uncle and aunt – all of whom are big fans of the Kansas City Chiefs.
“When I heard the gunshots, I hid,” he said The independent on Thursday morning. “I fell to the ground and then hid behind a trash can.”
Samuel had remembered what he had learned during his school’s active shooter drills and rushed to hide among the gunfire, but felt a sharp pain under his arm where he was shot.
He was one of 21 victims shot during the parade that left one person dead. Police continue to investigate and have arrested three suspects, including two juveniles, in connection with the incident. Police have not yet named the suspects, but say the shooting was the result of an argument between several people.
Samuel Arellano, 10, went to the parade Wednesday with his grandfather, uncle and aunt — all of whom are big fans of the Kansas City Chiefs
Tragedy struck as the family celebrated the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory near the city’s Union Station when gunshots started flying and the 10-year-old felt a sharp pain under his arm
Samuel said he felt “a little angry” the day after — and his family wanted to tell their story because they were shocked that what should have been a “good experience” was spoiled by gun violence.
During the parade, the boy was close to his grandfather and uncle, who took cover under a trailer.
“Everyone was running, losing their shoes and losing their clothes,” Samuel said.
After the coast appeared to be clear, Samuel and his family raced the 15 minutes back to their home in the Turner neighborhood.
At first, the family saw no blood or wounds on Samuel, but after lifting his shirt, they noticed a gaping wound on his right side under his armpit.
“He kept saying he was hit, but at the same time I feel like he didn’t believe it himself … in that spirit of shock,” said his aunt, Eunice Salas.
“Everyone tried to comfort him, but at the same time he was calm.”
Salas continued, “We feel like it was a miracle too because he didn’t bleed. He has the wound, but there was no blood or nothing flowing.”
Samuel’s father called 911 and the little boy was taken to Mercy Children’s Hospital, where doctors “extracted some parts of the bullet.”
Doctors told the family the bullet landed within inches of his pulmonary artery.
“They said thank God the bullet didn’t go in enough to do (further) damage,” Salas said.
The boy’s aunt revealed that the family of loyal Kansas City Chiefs fans regularly attend parades and that this was the second time Samuel joined them.
Salas had split up with her family during the parade and was all the way on the other side of Union Station when the shooting started
“When I heard the gunshots, I hid,” he told The Independent on Thursday morning. ‘I fell to the ground and then hid behind a rubbish bin’
The youngster was close to his grandfather and uncle when the gunfire broke out, who took cover under a trailer
Samuel’s aunt said the family wanted to raise awareness about gun violence. “We feel like a lot of people are clearly sympathizing with us, and there are a lot of people now saying, ‘It’s just a shooting.’ No. No. This was tragic. And I feel like people need to know that.”
His mother, Aby Arellano, wanted to express her condolences to the family of victim Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the popular 44-year-old local radio DJ who was killed in the shooting.
“We are devastated by the violence that occurred yesterday, which should have been a day of celebration and unity for our city,” she said. “I ask for prayers for all affected families.”
At a news conference outside the city’s police headquarters, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said investigators believe the shooting was sparked by a personal dispute between a small group, and that the parade was not targeted.
At least 21 people were shot and one killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting, and the news conference confirmed the death of a beloved Kansas City radio DJ.
“This was a dispute that ended in gunfire,” said the chief, who said a total of 10 people were questioned in the aftermath and further arrests are possible.
Terrified paradegoers fled for their lives after gunmen opened fire shortly after the Super Bowl winners stepped off stage
Officials said the more than two dozen victims ranged from eight to 47 years old, at least half of whom were under the age of 16.
Graves said the incident appears to have been sparked by rampant gun violence in Kansas City, and that it does not have “any connection (connection) to terrorism at this time.”
The city’s fire chief spoke briefly at the news conference, saying at least eight victims were in critical condition.
Images circulating on social media show at least five people taken into custody following the shooting.
Several of them appear to be minors and were handcuffed and led away by police. It is unclear which of the persons photographed belong to the three suspects. One of the suspects was wearing a yellow Patrick Mahomes as he was handcuffed by police.
The Kansas City Police Department told DailyMail.com that it is not releasing the names of those in the images because they have not been charged.