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Court: 2 juveniles charged in connection to Union Station shooting

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Posted at 11:45 AM, Feb 16, 2024
and last updated 2024-02-16 23:43:10-05

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Jackson County Family Court said Friday two juveniles have been charged in connection to the mass shooting Wednesday outside of Union Station in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

A release from the Jackson County Family Court Division says the two juveniles face charges relating to gun possession and resisting arrest. The release says "additional charges are expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues."

One person, identified as local radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, was killed and 22 others were injured, including at least nine children, in the shooting, which took place moments after the conclusion of the Chiefs Kingdom Champions Victory rally in celebration of the team’s Super Bowl LVIII win.

The court withheld their identity due to the age of the suspects.

It is possible a Family Court judge could certify the pair to stand trial as an adult, which would transfer the case to Jackson County Circuit Court under the purview of the Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker promised via social media Thursday morning to "use every tool at my disposal under Missouri law that allows me to address this tragedy."

She released a statement on Friday following the announcement of the charges:

"We regularly work with juvenile court officers on cases and we have worked with them on this case as well. Though we do not oversee or supervise the juvenile officers, we work closely with them. We expect to be at future hearings regarding theses individuals who were charged today in Family Court. We will continue to work closely with all authorities as the investigation continues. We are grateful for the collaboration and partnership with these juvenile officers. And we will continue to work closely with the police investigative team overseeing their investigation of this mass shooting."

No probable cause statement, the documents that summarize the investigative findings by law enforcement, is available because the juveniles were charged in Family Court, but those details could become public if the pair are charged as adults.

RELATED | Complete KSHB 41 coverage of Union Station shooting

KCPD Chief of Police Stacey Graves said at a press conference earlier Thursday morning that the shooting started after a dispute between several people.

Graves also released a statement after the charges were announced.

"I am grateful for the two for the charges against the two juveniles who hurt innocent people, simultaneously scarring an entire community," she said in the statement. "Our investigators have poured themselves into this investigation, and it continues. We will not relent until everyone who may have played a part in these crimes is apprehended so that they may be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The police department loves and is committed to Kansas City, and we resolve to bring justice to all victims."

Police were still seeking witnesses and video of the shooting. The FBI set up a website to allow the public to provide digital files to KCPD.

University Health Truman Medical Center, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, the University of Kansas Hospital and North Kansas City Hospital also received shooting victims after the post-rally violence erupted.