Video captured the moment at least two bystanders tackled and subdued one of the suspects in Wednesday’s shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl rally in Kansas City that left one person dead and wounded at least 21 others.
The shots rang out as the rally was coming to an end in downtown K.C., where hundreds of thousands of people had gathered to celebrate the team’s third NFL title in five years.
Two armed suspects were taken in custody, Police Chief Stacey Graves said in a Wednesday afternoon press conference. The motive for the shooting was still under investigation, she said.
“I turned back around and noticed my dad along with another good Samaritan running, jumping and tackling the second offender,” Alyssa Marsh Contreras told KTLA 5’s Samantha Cortese. “As they tackled him, the weapon fell out. A cop was able to secure that. After that, I just remember yelling, ‘Cops! We need cops over here. Somebody come over here!’”
Contrares, who recorded cell phone video of the situation, said the man appeared to be armed with a “machine gun.”
Police arrived seconds later and pounced on the suspect, her video shows.
“From the moment when my dad and this other guy tackled him … I think everybody was on the same team there to get this person who was trying to cause harm to everybody else,” she said.
Social media users posted shocking videos of police running through a crowded scene as people in attendance hurriedly scrambled for cover and ran away.
One video showed someone apparently performing chest compressions on a shooting victim as another person, seemingly writhing in pain, lay on the ground nearby. People screamed in the background.
“I’m angry at what happened today. The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.” Graves said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.