Kansas City Chiefs parade mass shooting: 2 adults arrested for murder
Two adults have been arrested in connection with the mass shooting that erupted following a dispute at the Chiefs' Super Bowl parade last week, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Dominic Miller and Lyndell Mays each face charges of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said, noting that paradegoer Lisa Lopez-Galvan was allegedly fatally shot by a bullet from Miller's gun.
It appears Mays was in a "verbal argument" at the parade with someone he had no prior history with, Baker said at a news conference. "That argument very quickly escalated to Mays" pulling out his handgun, and "almost immediately, others pulled their firearms," including Miller, Baker said.
Lopez-Galvan, a radio DJ, was killed and 22 were hurt in Wednesday's mass shooting.
Mays told police "that he drew a gun first, in a crowd of people with kids, picked one of the individuals in the group [he was arguing with] at random, and started shooting, all because they said, 'I’m going to get you' and to him, that meant, 'I’m going to kill you,'" the probable cause affidavit said.
Mays said he fired two shots and said other people started shooting after he did, the court document said.
Miller said after he heard gunshots and saw a man shooting at him, he returned fire, according to the probable cause statement. Miller said he estimated he fired four to five shots, according to court documents.
When police asked Mays why he "advanced" on the other group in the first place, Mays "replied, 'Stupid, man. Just pulled a gun out and started shooting. I shouldn’t have done that. Just being stupid,'" the probable cause affidavit said.
"When reminded that the person Lyndell Mays was shooting at was running away from him, Lyndell Mays replied, 'I know,'" the probable cause affidavit said.
Miller and Mays were both shot, according to court documents, and both men remain in the hospital, Baker said. They are being held on a $1 million bond, according to Baker.
Two juvenile suspects were taken into custody last week on gun-related charges and resisting arrest, officials said.
"We seek to hold every shooter accountable for their actions," Baker said Tuesday.
"The effort and dedicated hours spent to expeditiously investigate this senseless act of violence is extremely commendable," Lopez-Galvan's relatives said in a statement that was read at the press conference on their behalf. "It is reassuring for our family and the entire community to know that this joint team effort has resulted in the identification of the suspects involved."
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on Saturday in remembrance of Lopez-Galvan.
