Kansas City, Missouri – A 10-year-old boy is sharing his terrifying experience during a mass shooting that occurred at the end of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade.
Samuel Arellano was shot in the ribs during the incident, which left at least 23 people injured and one person dead. The deceased has been identified as Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a 43-year-old mother and beloved local radio DJ.
In an interview with local television station KSHB, Samuel and his family recounted the moments of the shooting. According to Samuel, he was separated from his mother and walking with his grandfather when gunfire broke out. He described the pain of being shot as feeling like getting stabbed, and expressed how the incident could have potentially impacted his entire future.
Despite initially not realizing the extent of his injury, Samuel’s family eventually discovered the gunshot wound under his shirt. They called an ambulance, and Samuel was treated at Children’s Mercy hospital along with at least nine other juvenile victims. The hospital expects all the children to fully recover from their injuries.
The family also expressed the long-lasting trauma they all may experience as a result of the shooting. Samuel’s mother described the sight of her son’s gunshot wound as traumatic and difficult to put into words, while Samuel himself anticipates suffering from flashbacks looking at the bullet hole.
The Kansas City Police Chief revealed that over half of the 22 surviving victims were under the age of 16. Additionally, two of the three suspects taken into custody after the shooting were juveniles. Mayor Quinton Lucas called the incident an unforeseen tragedy that the city would remember for a long time.
As the investigation into the shooting continues, the community is left grappling with the emotional and physical aftermath of the tragic event.