Two individuals are facing charges of murder following an exchange of gunfire on the outskirts of a Super Bowl victory celebration in Kansas City, Missouri. The altercation resulted in the death of one person and injuries to more than 20 others, including the suspects themselves, allegedly triggered by a dispute over eye contact, prosecutors revealed on Tuesday.
Their apprehensions - one individual charged on Tuesday and the other on February 17 - have brought the total number of suspects facing legal action in connection with the Valentine's Day shooting to four. Two minors were taken into custody last week and charged in juvenile court with firearm-related offenses and resisting arrest.
Prosecutors have expressed their intention to pursue charges against the two juveniles as adults while emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing.
The latest suspects, identified as Dominic Miller, aged 18, from Kansas City, and Lyndell Mays, aged 23, from suburban Raytown, are each accused of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, and one count of unlawful use of a weapon.
Based on accounts from witnesses and video evidence, law enforcement determined that the violence erupted when Mays and a group of individuals confronted him, leading to an argument over why they were making eye contact, as stated in a sworn affidavit accompanying the charges.
"The defendants reportedly attended a Super Bowl parade and rally on February 14, 2024, armed with firearms," stated the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office in a separate release, adding, "A verbal altercation ensued, culminating in gunfire, with no regard for the safety of thousands of others present in the vicinity."
During a brief press briefing announcing the charges, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker indicated that the investigation revealed the conflict originated from an altercation between Mays and an unfamiliar individual.
Baker informed the media that their dispute "escalated rapidly," with Mays producing a firearm, prompting others nearby to do the same "almost immediately."
Although both Mays and Miller are accused of murder, evidence suggests that a bullet fired from Miller's firearm struck and killed Elizabeth Lopez-Galvan, 43, a radio personality. Lopez-Galvan was one of 23 individuals initially reported injured by gunfire, including at least nine minors, although court filings against Mays list the total number of known gunshot victims at 25, including Lopez-Galvan.
In Missouri, a conviction for second-degree murder carries a potential prison sentence ranging from 10 to 30 years, or life imprisonment.
The shooting incident occurred following a parade and rally near Union Station in Kansas City, which attracted a crowd of over a million fans celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
Probable cause statements submitted by prosecutors, alongside the criminal complaints against Mays and Miller, indicate that both suspects were hospitalized due to gunshot wounds sustained during the altercation. Surveillance footage captured their actions amidst the crowd, with Miller reportedly shouting, "I'm shot, I'm shot," as he was apprehended by a bystander while carrying a firearm.
Prosecutors revealed that both suspects confessed to their involvement in the shooting during interviews with detectives while hospitalized.
One witness reported seeing Mays approached by four males, one of whom confronted him about his gaze, leading to a visible firearm in the possession of one of the individuals.
According to documents filed against Mays, he admitted to being the first to draw his weapon and initiate gunfire, targeting a random individual fleeing the scene.
Mays stated to investigators that he was aware of the presence of minors in the vicinity but believed that any one of them could be armed. He expressed regret over his actions, acknowledging that he "just pulled a gun out and started shooting," admitting it was a foolish decision.
Both Mays and Miller remained hospitalized under custody on Tuesday, as confirmed by Michael Mansur, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, who also mentioned that a detention hearing was conducted on Tuesday for the two juvenile suspects.
