After the shooting that took place on Wednesday at Union Station following the conclusion of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade and rally, Mike Kelly, Chairman of the Johnson County Board of Commissioners, issued this statement:

Yesterday, my wife and I were among the thousands of people from across our region who came together in Kansas City to celebrate a championship. But what started as an unforgettable day ended in an all-too-familiar tragedy.

Our hearts are with Lisa Lopez-Galvan’s family and friends, all of the victims, including nine children, and everyone impacted. 

And let us be clear: everyone is impacted. Right here in Johnson County, parents are struggling to explain these events to children. Families are praying for injured loved ones. Thousands of residents are trying to make sense of what they experienced. Whether it’s school, the mall, or now a community parade, we live in Johnson County knowing that gun violence is a very real possibility.

It should not be this way. 

The county needs to do everything in our power to stop this epidemic, or we are not doing our jobs. 

The Johnson County Mental Health Center is available for anyone experiencing symptoms of trauma, whether or not you were present at yesterday’s event. Resources are available 24/7 by calling 913-268-0156 or 988 or by texting SHARE to 741-741.

Finally, thank you to the law enforcement officers, first responders, and bystanders who put themselves in harm’s way as they reacted to yesterday’s events while seeking to keep others safe.