Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid is demanding “real solutions” to gun violence after a deadly shooting broke out following the team’s Super Bowl victory parade Wednesday.
“Kids are being shot and somebody didn’t come home tonight. We cannot allow this to be normal,” Reid wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We cannot ourselves to become numb and chalk it up to ‘just another shooting in America’ and reduce people in statistics and then move on tmrw.”
“This is a SERIOUS PROBLEM!! I pray our leaders enact real solutions so our kids’ kids won’t know this violence,” he added.
A shooting broke out after the Chiefs’ victory parade Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo. Police confirmed at least one person has died while another 21 were shot and injured, including eight children. Police said three people are in custody in connection with the shooting.
The shooting at what was meant to be a celebration also came on the sixth anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 people dead. Lawmakers reflected on the Parkland shooting Wednesday as they condemned the shooting in Kansas City, with many Democrats renewing their calls for gun safety legislation.
Chiefs defensive end Charles Omenihu also called for a change to gun laws after the shooting.
“Prayers for those affected at today’s parade. A time of celebration ends in tragedy. When are we going to fix these gun laws ? How many more people have to die to say enough is enough ? It’s too easy for the wrong people to obtain guns in America and that’s a FACT,” Omenihu wrote on X.
The Chiefs said in a statement that all their players and their families “are safe and accounted for” after the shooting, adding they “are truly saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred outside of Union Station.”
“I am heartbroken over the tragedy that took place today. My heart is with all who came out to celebrate with us and have been affected. KC, you mean the world to me,” tight end Travis Kelce posted on X.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes said he was “praying for Kansas City” in a post on X.