KC Chiefs rally gunman 'fired shots while spinning in a circle' says witness

15 February 2024 , 21:33

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KC Chiefs rally gunman 'fired shots while spinning in a circle' says witness

A man who attended the Kansas City Chief's victory parade with his wife and children recalled the horrific events that may have led to the massacre, adding that one shooter began indiscriminately spraying bullets into the crowds while spinning in a circle.

Jacob Gooch Sr. claimed to have heard a girl remark, "Don't do it, not here, this is stupid," after he had heard an altercation. Gooch claimed that he mistook the sound of the gunshots for fireworks when they started. However, his relatives claimed to have witnessed the gunman's activities before the chaos commenced.

"My daughter said that some lady was holding him back, and people started backing up, and he pulled it out and starting shooting and spinning in a circle," Gooch said.

READ MORE: Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting a 'personal dispute' and not terrorism as 2 'juveniles' arrested

Jacob Gooch, his wife and son all suffered gunshot wounds during the shooting (CBS Mornings)

Gooch added that while his wife was shot in the calf and his son's foot was injured, his daughter was not shot. Gooch said the fractured bones in his foot are the result of a gunshot to the ankle.

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Authorities revealed on Thursday that Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local radio personality, was the lone victim killed in the shooting. According to Kansas City, law enforcement officials, two of the three individuals arrested following the shooting are juveniles. According to KC Police Chief Stacey Graves, at least 21 others endured non life-threatening gunshot wounds but are expected to recover.

The chaos Wednesday prompted sorrowful responses from the city mayor and police chief (AFP via Getty Images)

Police said on Thursday that the shooting seemed to be the result of an argument between multiple individuals. Gooch, who was sporting a Chiefs T-shirt, stated on Thursday that he thought it was safe to attend the march. "We actually talked about it," he said. "It's just a bunch of happy people. Nothing's going to happen."

While the investigation is still ongoing, police do not believe it is related to terrorism, according to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who made this statement on "CBS Mornings" on Thursday. The motive is also being looked into. "We also know that this, at least from sounds, was some sort of rapid fire firearm that would be either consistent in situations with a switch device, or something else that fires rapidly rather than perhaps a traditional type revolver," he said.

Casualties included one death and at least 21 gunshot injuries (AFP via Getty Images)

Born and raised in Kansas City, Lucas admitted that he had trouble sleeping the night before due to the sobering realization that his city was yet another one left traumatized by a mass shooting. "I was thinking about if we're lucky enough to have enough championship, is this something in good conscience that we could put together again," Lucas said.

Lucas declared that the "threat is over" in reference to the gunshot on Wednesday and praised the courage and promptness of the police.

Mataeo Smith