Taylor Swift donated $100,000 to the family of radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the only death in a mass shooting at a Super Bowl victory celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Lopez-Galvan's family established a GoFundMe page for the KKFI radio DJ, who attended the parade on Wednesday with multiple family members, as per USA Today.
Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl Parade Shooting
Kansas City police have officially identified the victim of the deadly shooting during the Chiefs' title celebration as 43-year-old Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a beloved radio host for KFFI's "Taste of Tejano." The tragic incident occurred as the celebration was concluding, and Lopez-Galvan was later confirmed as the sole deceased victim. The announcement of her death was initially made by KFFI through a social media post on Wednesday.
Following the tragic loss, an appeal for donations began on Thursday to collect $75,000 in her memory. The support has been overwhelming, with donations exceeding $260,000 by Friday afternoon. It's worth mentioning that Taylor Swift was one of the donors, showing her support with two donations of $50,000 each to express her condolences for the tragedy.
Swift, who is currently in a relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, verified her donations through her representatives. Lopez-Galvan's family shared their grief with CBS News, describing her as "the life of the party."
Her brother, Beto Lopez, expressed the initial shock and likened the situation to a bad dream. Carmen Lopez-Murguia, Lopez-Galvan's sister, recalled her joyful spirit during the parade, emphasizing that they did not expect the day to end in such a tragic manner.
The shooting victims ranged in age from eight years old, and two minors are now being charged in connection with the crime. The individuals in question, whose names have not been disclosed, are currently in custody on charges related to firearms and resisting arrest, as per a statement from Jackson County family court, according to CBS News.
Violence Erupts at Kansas Chiefs' Celebration
The crime occurred on Wednesday afternoon outside Union Station, where a gathering was being held following a parade through the city to commemorate the Chiefs' win. Even with more than 800 police officers in and around the area, the violence still broke out, leading to the tragic death of a mother of two and injuries to 22 others. According to Police Chief Stacey Graves, the victims' ages varied from eight to 47, with half of them being under 16.
While three juveniles were initially detained, one was released after investigators determined their lack of involvement in the shooting. Authorities are now actively seeking additional individuals who may have been involved and are urging witnesses, victims, and anyone with cellphone video footage to come forward through a dedicated hotline.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, despite acknowledging the public safety challenges, expressed no intention to cancel the upcoming St Patrick's Day parade. Lucas emphasized that the violence was perpetrated by only a handful of individuals, considering the overall attendance of approximately 1 million people at the Chiefs' parade.
Wednesday's event celebrated the third parade since 2020, with no prior cases of violence. The unfortunate occurrence caused confusion among the attendees who initially thought the gunshots were fireworks, resulting in an emergency as people tried to find safety. The aftermath was defined by a sense of loss as shocked rally-goers retrieved their things under crime scene tape, despite the prompt reaction from law officials and citizens.
Kansas City has been facing continual problems related to gun violence. In 2020, it was among nine cities selected by the US Justice Department to tackle violent crime. In 2023, the city set a record with 182 homicides, with the majority involving firearms. Mayor Lucas has recently supported a nationwide push for new legislation to combat gun violence, including advocating for universal background checks, The Guardian reported.
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