The fatal victim of the mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade has been identified— Lisa López Gálvan. She was a mother of two, an avid fan of sports, and the daughter of Mexican immigrants.
López Gálvan, also known by her artistic name as "Lisa G," was known within the city's Hispanic community and beyond for her weekly radio show at the local station KKFI 90.1 called "A Taste of Tejano," a celebration Tejano music. She also played local weddings and promoted charity fundraisers.
"It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa López Gálvan, host of 'Taste of Tejano' lost her life today in the shooting at the KC Chiefs' rally," the station said on Facebook. "This senseless act has taken a beautiful person from her family and this KC Community," the station added.
López Gálvan attended the parade with her husband and son, who was also shot.
Along with the radio host and her son, at least 21 other people were injured at the rally, eight of them with "life-threatening" injuries, when shots were fired at about 2 p.m. CT on Wednesday, authorities said.
At least 11 of those injured are children aged between 6 and 15, Stephanie Meyer, a senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri said.
Three people have been detained by police in connection with the incident, though they have not been identified. The exact motive behind the shooting remains unclear as police investigation continues.
López Galván was an extroverted and dedicated mother, Rosa Izurieta, a family friend, recalls.
"She was the type of person who would get in front of a bullet to save anyone, that was Lisa," the friend said.
López Galván was always tied to music and her Hispanic roots, she said at an interview in November for Kansas City Hispanic News. Her father, Beto López, migrated to the U.S. from Jalisco, Mexico, where he would later learn to play various instruments and even go and play for a mariachi band. He would then instill his musical acumen to his daughter.
"My daughter Lisa enjoys music just as much as I do, except I play a trumpet with Mariachi groups and Lisa plays music at the KKFI community radio station," the father said in an interview in November.
Just last week, she showed her excitement for the Super Bowl and her support for the Kansas City Chiefs by posting pictures of red and yellow snacks and shirts.
Though many details remain unclear, the incident has already caused national fervor, with some calling for stricter laws.
Vice-President Kamala Harris echoed this sentiment before boarding a flight to Munich Wednesday night, when she urged Congress to act on gun control.
Today was supposed to be a day of celebration and joy in Kansas City. Instead, it is another day where America has experienced senseless gun violence. It doesn’t have to be this way. pic.twitter.com/WoazEoF3Ct
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) February 15, 2024
"Today was supposed to be a day of celebration for a community of people to come together," she said via social media. "And yet it's another day where Americans experienced gun violence. It doesn't have to be this way."
Manuel Abarca IV, 1st District legislator in Jackson County, Missouri, also joined the conversation, paying tribute to Lopez Galvan and pledging to bring in gun reforms.
"I will not let her death go in vain. I will legislate, I will fight and I will do everything in my power to change this State and City for the better, he said in a post on X.
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