Chiefs players send prayers after shooting derails Super Bowl parade, President Biden calls for gun control

Jack Baer
Law enforcement personnel approach Union Station following a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. Multiple people were injured, a fire official said. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
No members of the Chiefs organization was hurt in the mass shooting at their Super Bowl parade. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Kansas City's day of celebration was turned into a tragedy Wednesday when a mass shooting derailed the Chief's Super Bowl parade.

As of Wednesday afternoon, two suspects are in custody with one person confirmed dead and 22 other people injured by gunshots. Per KMBC's Mat Flener, 11 of the 12 patients at Kansas City’s Children’s Mercy hospital were children, nine with gunshot wounds. The identity of the suspects and their motives remain unknown.

No one in the Chiefs organization was among the victims, but the team certainly felt the impact. The players' reactions were nearly immediate, with The MMQB's Albert Breer reporting a group of them helped calm down panicked children. Offensive lineman Tre Smith reportedly gave one kid the Chiefs' WWE belt and sat with him.

Head coach Andy Reid helped too, consoling people who were near the shooting at Union Station, via the Kansas City Star:

“Andy Reid was trying to comfort me, which was nice,” Gabe said, shortly before his voice broke and tears filled his eyes. “… 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."

“He left to check on other people, I’m pretty sure.”

Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder later tweeted he and Reid were safe and on the bus to Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs tweeted a statement confirming all players, coaches, staff and family members were safe and accounted for, then thanking first responders.

President Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris released statements later Wednesday, with both calling for increased gun control. Both connected Wednesday's shooting to the one that killed 17 students and staff members at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which happened six years ago to the day.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen Chiefs players sent out messages on social media with prayers for Kansas City, including Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes:

Defensive end Charles Omenihu and safety Justin Reid had particularly pointed messages, calling for a change to gun laws in light of yet another mass shooting.

Several other NFL players, including former Chiefs safety Juan Thornhill and quarterback Chase Daniel, also responded to the news:

The NFL and several other teams also sent out messages of support:

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