KANSAS CITY, Missouri – After surviving a terrifying mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, 10-year-old Samuel Arellano is sharing his harrowing experience. Samuel was one of at least 23 people who were shot, with one fatality. The deceased was identified as 43-year-old Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother and beloved local radio DJ.
Speaking with a local television station, Samuel recounted the pain he felt after being shot in the ribs. He described the sensation as feeling like being stabbed and expressed gratitude that the bullet narrowly missed his lung, stating, “It felt like getting stabbed. It could’ve been inches from my whole future.”
According to Samuel and his family, he was separated from his mother and walking with his grandfather when the shooting began. His account of the chaotic scene is chilling, as he recalled seeing people fighting before guns were drawn and the gunfire erupted, eventually hitting him. The family initially didn’t realize he had been shot, and Samuel sought refuge behind a trash can while trying to remember what he had learned in active shooter training at school. But as he attempted to hide, he was trampled by others fleeing the scene.
After the shooting ceased, Samuel was reunited with his mother, who then discovered the gunshot wound under his shirt. The family called an ambulance, and Samuel was treated for his injuries at Children’s Mercy hospital, where at least nine other juvenile victims were also treated. However, despite receiving medical care, Samuel and his family expressed that they might never fully recover from the trauma they endured.
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves confirmed that more than half of the surviving victims were under 16, emphasizing the tragic impact on children. Additionally, two of the three suspects taken into custody after the shooting were also juveniles, highlighting the devastating toll of the violence on young individuals. Although no charges had been filed at the time, an update on the investigation was expected the following day.
The chilling account of Samuel’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the lasting impact of such senseless violence, and as Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas noted, this tragedy is one that will be remembered for a long time to come.