A Kansas City-area high school student said Chiefs coach Andy Reid hugged him as a shooting unfolded at the team’s Super Bowl parade on Wednesday.
At least 29 people were shot and one died after gunmen opened fire inside Union Station shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves.
And Gabe Wallace, a sophomore at Shawnee Mission East High School, reportedly said Reid comforted him during the madness.
“Andy Reid was trying to comfort me, which was nice,” Wallace told the Kansas City Star.
‘…He was like hugging me, like, ‘You okay, man?’ Are you OK? Please breathe.’ He was being very nice and everything. He left to check on other people, I’m pretty sure.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid and owner Clark Hunt celebrate during Wednesday’s parade.
People flee after shots fired near Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LVIII victory parade
speaking to Star columnist Sam McDowellWallace said he “had no idea if my friends were okay.”
“My friends are dead, that’s what’s going through my mind,” he later recalled.
‘I’m literally thinking, ‘What if my friends are dead? … Are they alive or are they just lying on the floor bleeding to death?’ I have no idea.’
He later reunited with his friend Hank Hunter, from whom he became separated during the shooting.
The teen said a security guard told him to “cross the damn fence” to safety and punched him in the face in the process.
Police evacuated Union Station as large crowds fled in panic after gunshots were heard.
Up to a million people were expected to arrive in Kansas City for the parade.
Police detained two armed men at the scene as the parade descended into chaos. It is unclear if the man in the photo was involved.
Reports indicate that several children were also shot and killed at the tragic celebration and were rushed to nearby Children’s Mercy Hospital.
The photo shows a man in a red hoodie being arrested, although it is unclear if he was one of those involved in the shooting.
Video also emerged of brave Chiefs fans tackling one of the alleged gunmen as he tried to flee from police.
As seen in a clip posted on X, several people restrain the suspect while others ask the police for help.
Officers then arrive at the group and are able to take the suspect into custody.