KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The person fatally shot at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory celebration Wednesday was a popular radio DJ and figure in the city’s Hispanic community and beyond, family and friends said.
The victim’s family identified her as Lisa Lopez-Galvan.
At least 22 other people were injured, at least half of whom are under 16, police said. The exact circumstances behind the shootings remain unclear as a police investigation continues.
Police have detained two people, whom they have not publicly identified, but no one has been charged. Police said the shooting appeared to have started as a dispute among several people.
Lopez-Galvan co-hosted a weekly radio show on local station KKFI 90.1 called "A Taste of Tejano," a celebration of Tejano, or "Tex-Mex," music, which has origins in Texas and Mexico. She also played local weddings and promoted charity fundraisers.
The Kansas City Star reported that she was a mother of two.
"It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, host of Taste of Tejano lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs’ rally," the station said on Facebook.
"This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community," it added.
The "Taste of Tejano" Facebook page changed its profile picture to a single candle. She last hosted the show Tuesday night.
Lisa Lopez, a newsroom executive administration assistant who is no relation, told the Star: "She was the most wonderful, beautiful person. She was a local DJ. She did everybody’s weddings. We all know her. She was so full of life."
On her own Facebook page, Lopez-Galvan, a Chiefs fan, showed how excited she was for the Super Bowl by posting pictures of red and yellow snacks and shirts.
In November, the Kansas City Hispanic News newspaper published a feature on Lopez-Galvan and her father, Beto Lopez, 79, a locally famous mariachi musician.
“My daughter Lisa enjoys music just as much as I do, except I play a trumpet with Mariachi groups and Lisa plays music at the KKFI community radio station,” Lopez told the paper.
“She also DJs for different events throughout the metro, whether that be a private party or a fiesta. What we have is special, and it is all for the love of music.”
Her brother Beto Lopez said Lopez-Galvan "was a lot more than just a number."
"She was a very wholesome, very caring, very loving individual," he said on NBC's "TODAY" show.
Another family member said her death was a "big loss."
Christina Nuñez was one of more than 100 people who gathered Thursday night at the Skywalk Memorial Plaza for a candlelight vigil for the victims.
Nuñez said that she had been friends with Lopez-Galvan since grade school and that Lopez-Galvan was a DJ at her wedding.
Lopez-Galvan had a big heart, and it showed, Nuñez said.
“She’s always been a part of our family. She took us in as family. And to know her, you were her family, as well,” she said.
“She was a big part of the community. Not only the Hispanic community, the west side community, but Kansas City community. She was here to do good,” Nuñez said. “It’s just so hard to understand. And I hope that we can learn from this, but I hate that God took such a beautiful person.”
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said in a statement that the police department was "working tirelessly to investigate her murder.”
“We are still learning about her, but know that she is beloved by many,” Graves said.
The department identified her as Elizabeth Galvan, 43.
Paul Contreras, a Chiefs fan who was seen in video circulated on social media tackling a possible suspect in the shooting to the ground, said Thursday on NBC’s “TODAY” show that his actions were “just a reaction” as he saw someone running opposite the direction fans were taking.
Contreras said he did not get a good look at the man, who was facedown on the ground and was then arrested.
Contreras’ daughter, Alyssa Marsh-Contreras, who was at the scene, said, “It’s crazy — we’ve had more shootings this year than we’ve had days,” referring to mass shootings in the U.S.
Chiefs players, who were celebrating Sunday’s overtime win that made them back-to-back champions, responded with shock and disbelief.
Safety Justin Reid said on X: “This 🤬 is SAD man! Kids are being shot and somebody didn’t come home tonight. We cannot allow this to be normal.” Tight end Travis Kelce said he was “heartbroken,” while the team’s official X account said the team was “truly saddened” by Wednesday’s events.
Manuel Abarca IV, a 1st District legislator in Jackson County, Missouri, paid tribute to her and pledged to do more to change gun laws.
"I will not let her death go in vein. I will legislate, I will fight and I WILL do everything in my power to change this State and City for the better," he said on X.
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed that sentiment before she boarded a flight to Munich, Germany, on Wednesday night, when she urged Congress to act on gun control.
"Today was supposed to be a day of celebration for a community of people to come together … and yet it’s another day where America experienced gun violence," she said. "It doesn’t have to be this way."
Jesse Kirsch and Antonio Planas reported from Kansas City and Patrick Smith from London.
