Chiefs rally shooting: 15-year-old sentenced to state facility for Super Bowl parade gunfire
The Chiefs have been on a roll for the past few years winning consecutive Super Bowls and each victory being accompanied by a victory parade. However, the specter of gun violence is rarely far from the surface and the World Champions had to witness a horrific attack during their latest celebrations in 2024.
Gunfire reportedly exchanged between two groups, led to the death of local radio jockey Lisa Lopez Galvan. Three men have been charged with her murder. One of them is a 15-year-old teen, referred to as R.G. in court documents.
At Thursday's hearing, he expressed remorse, saying,
"That is not who I am."
As reported by ESPN, via the Kansas City Star, he said that he was swayed by the company he was with during the February 14 Chiefs' Super Bowl parade. During the proceedings at Jackson County Family Court, Administrative Judge Jennifer Phillips committed R.G. at a state Department of Youth Services facility, which is expected to last 9 to 12 months. At the hearing, she also concurred,
"You made some bad choices, but that doesn't make you a bad person. It doesn't make you a bad kid."
The judge accepted the charge of unlawful use of a weapon by knowingly discharging or firing a firearm at a person, as was admitted by the 15-year-old. A second charge of armed criminal action was dismissed, and the office agreed to not go through the certification process that could see his case sent to adult court.
Reconstructing the Chiefs' Super Bowl rally shooting based on reports
While there was a lot of confusion as to what actually happened during the Chiefs' Super Bowl parade shooting, pieces are now coming together. Lyndell Mays and Dominic Miller, along with R.G., are the three accused of murder.
Mays allegedly fired the first shot toward a group containing Miller and the teen. The teen fired back and struck his compatriot in friendly fire too. The cause of the altercation seems to be reportedly something one group said about the other.
R.G. is so far the one who has been committed to a state youth facility while the others will see what justice brings them. They were there to see the Chiefs celebrate a dynastic win, built on the back of excellent teamwork. Having the right people around you can elevate every individual within a group. If the Super Bowl victory was not proof of that, the 15-year-old learned the hard way how company can affect what they win or lose in life.