The gunfire erupted west of Union Station, where thousands had gathered to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl win on Wednesday. According to a fire department official, three of the victims are in critical condition, while five others sustained serious injuries.

Kansas City police swiftly took two armed individuals into custody, as captured in videos shared on social media. The footage showed officers rushing to the scene at the bustling station, with ambulances transporting victims to safety.

The celebratory parade, which concluded outside Union Station in downtown Kansas City around 14:00 local time (20:00 GMT), turned into a scene of chaos when shots rang out while players were still on stage.

In response to the tragic incident, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves revealed that the department had deployed over 600 officers along the parade route on Monday, with an additional 250 officers from neighboring forces. The heightened security measures aimed to ensure the safety of the celebratory event, but the unforeseen violence has left the community in shock and mourning.