The Kansas City Police Department has been criticized for posting a video of crowds celebrating with the caption “you look great in the parade” after shots were fired at the Chiefs Super Bowl Parade.
In a post shared on We are honored to serve you on the ground and overhead.”
Moments after police posted the tweet, up to three gunmen, all of whom have since been arrested, opened fire in Union Square on what should have been a triumphant day for the city following the Chiefs’ victory in Las Vegas on Sunday.
The post has since gone viral, with social media users criticizing authorities for keeping the post alive for hours after at least one person was killed and 29 injured, with nine of them believed to be children during the shooting.
Kansas City police have been criticized for posting a video of crowds celebrating with the caption “You look great in the parade” after shots were fired at the Chiefs Super Bowl Parade
In a post shared on We are honored to serve you on the ground and overhead.”
Moments after police posted the tweet, two gunmen opened fire in Union Square on what should have been a triumphant day for the city following the Chiefs’ victory in Las Vegas on Sunday.
One angry user wrote: “Maybe you should get off Twitter and be prepared in case there’s a shooting or something?”
Another person interjected, saying, “YOU REALLY DID THAT WHEN IT WAS LITERALLY A SHOOTING AND TWO PEOPLE DIED???? KANSAS CITY YOU JUST SAD MAN.”
Many social media users asked police to remove the insensitive post and paid tribute to those who died and were injured during the mass shooting.
Others commented under the post, urging authorities to provide more updates on the shooters and victims, including at least nine children who were shot.
At least 29 people were shot and one killed after gunmen opened fire in Union Station shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves.
The victims included Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a Kansas City DJ and mother of two, who died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen during surgery at a hospital.
The shooting occurred seconds after the team – including Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes – left the stage.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City said the hospital was treating 12 patients, including 11 children, nine of whom suffered gunshot wounds.
St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City received one patient with a gunshot wound in critical condition and three walk-ins with injuries that were not life-threatening, spokesperson Laurel Gifford said.
“When you have that many victims, it’s going to be spread across many hospitals so you don’t overwhelm any ER,” she said.
At a news conference in the past hour, Police Chief Stacey Graves said, “We are working to determine if any of the three are the ones in the video of fans assisting police.”
Graves also said firearms were recovered after the shooting, saying, “We recovered firearms. I don’t have a number for you, nor a caliber.’
No charges have been announced and police say no motive has been established. The police have classified the detainees as arrested.
While Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundyson said eight victims had immediate life-threatening injuries.
Police evacuated the train station as large crowds fled in panic after the shots rang out. Up to a million people were expected to descend on Kansas City for the parade.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City said the hospital was treating 12 patients, including 11 children, nine of whom suffered from gunshot wounds
No charges have been announced and police say no motive has been established. The police have classified the detainees as arrested
Police evacuated the train station as large crowds fled in panic after the shots rang out. Up to a million people were expected to descend on Kansas City for the parade.
Fans were seen leaving the scene, while several people were wheeled away in stretchers.
Another man in a red hoodie was also seen in the photo arrested, although it is unclear if he was one of those involved in the shooting.
Graves said at a news conference about two hours after the shooting that officers responded and quickly arrested the shooters.
“Officers ran toward danger, and we thank them for that,” she said.
‘I’m angry about what happened today. People should expect a safe environment,” Graves continued, noting that more than 800 law enforcement officers were stationed at the parade.
Police said they released everyone in Union Station about 15 minutes after the shooting, but ordered the crowd to stay away from the area.
About an hour after the shooting, people at the nearby Westin Hotel were told to take shelter as police rushed to the hotel.