Two minors have been charged with gun-related offenses in connection to the Kansas City mass shooting earlier this week.
The 16th Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri announced the charges in a statement on Friday.
“Two juveniles were charged on Thursday, February 15, 2024, by the Office of the Juvenile Officer related to the incident at the Chiefs’ rally on February 14, 2024,” the court said.
A witness shared photos of one of the Kansas City Chiefs parade suspects handcuffed on the sidewalk, with the shooter’s backpack on the ground nearby. (Tony Janssens/X)
“The juveniles are currently detained in secure detention at the Juvenile Detention Center on gun related and resisting arrest charges,” the court continued in the Friday statement.
Gunshots rang out during the Chiefs’ victory parade at about 2 p.m. local time near the Union Station parking garage in Kansas City, killing one woman and injuring 22 others. The female victim has been identified as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother of two and local radio DJ.
At least eleven children were wounded during the shooting, but were expected to recover as of Wednesday night. Nine of them were shot, while two sustained other injuries.
Law enforcement personnel investigate 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)
The Friday statement continued, “It is anticipated that additional charges are expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues.”
The hearings will be not open to the public due to the age of those charged, in accordance with Missouri law.
Authorities said at a press conference on Thursday that “the relationship between the subjects involved is still under investigation” but that there is no evidence of links to terrorism.
Authorities also previously noted that despite initial reports speculating that the gunfire was erupting in multiple locations, this is no longer the belief of investigators and the violence was “mostly on the West side of Union Station.”
