Prosecutors charge two adults in Kansas City shooting
- Two adults have been charged in the shooting
- One person was killed and 22 injured
- Two juveniles were arrested in connection with the shooting
(NewsNation) — Prosecutors announced two adults have been charged in the Valentine’s Day shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs celebratory parade.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office in Missouri announced charges against two adults, Lyndell Mays and Dominic Miller. Both men are facing felony charges of murder in the second degree with the underlying charge of unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon by shooting at a person and two associated armed criminal action charges each.
Both are in custody and are being held on a $1 million bond.
The office said neither of the individuals were previously known to them. According to investigators, the shooting began with a dispute between two people who did not know each other. Prosecutors say Mays was the first to draw his gun but several others followed, including Miller.
Mays’ booking photo has been released, but Miller is still recovering in the hospital and has not been processed.
According to investigators, fire from Miller’s gun killed Lisa Lopez-Galvan, but both men are charged with murder.
Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker stressed the investigation is still ongoing and that her office will continue to work to hold all involved accountable.
The shooting Wednesday outside the city’s historic Union Station took place amid the parade that brought an estimated 1 million people to the city. One woman was killed and 22 people were injured, about half of whom were under the age of 16.
Authorities previously said they had detained two juveniles in relation to the shooting, which they suggested may have stemmed from a dispute. Several firearms were also recovered.
Police are still looking for others connected to the shooting and have asked for witnesses to come forward, especially those who may have video footage of what happened.
The Chiefs and the NFL have worked with local charities to raise funds for victims of the shooting, including a donation of $200,000. Taylor Swift, who is dating the team’s tight end Travis Kelce, also donated $100,000 to the family of the woman who was killed.
Advocates for gun control have called for action to be taken to change Missouri’s gun laws. The state does not require a permit for gun ownership or gun registration and has no age limit on purchasing guns. The legislature also passed a law that attempts to prohibit federal gun laws from being enforced in the state.
Open carry is allowed in the state except when specifically prohibited, and those over 19 are allowed to carry a concealed weapon with no permit unless a local ordinance states otherwise.
Missouri ranked ninth in the U.S. for gun-related deaths in 2021.
The Republican-controlled legislature did enact a law prohibiting celebratory gunfire in cities after the shooting, making it a misdemeanor offense.
The city’s mayor and security experts have suggested that a solution would be to cancel championship celebrations, pointing to a prior shooting in Denver after the Nuggets’ NBA title.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.