Commercial-grade fireworks kill fan celebrating Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win
A man celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory died late Sunday from a “catastrophic” head injury when he tried to light commercial-grade fireworks in an improvised mortar and one exploded, according to Kansas City police.
The victim’s name has not been released. Officers responded to the emergency call at 9:17 p.m. in the 9800 block of Richmond Avenue to help paramedics.
The victim was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. No other details were immediately available.
Kansas City police said they received 163 reports of gunfire between 5:30 p.m. Sunday, when the game began, and 1 a.m. Monday. Officers will follow up on those calls because celebratory gunfire is illegal and extremely dangerous, they said.
An estimated 20,000 people flocked to the Power & Light District in downtown Kansas City, which police said was the largest turnout in the city. Police made 14 arrests and ejected 45 people from the entertainment district.
Kansas City firefighters and paramedics responded to 24 medical calls during the daylong event. Officers also responded to several disturbances in the packed Westport entertainment district, but none were serious, police said.
This story was originally published February 3, 2020 at 11:52 AM.