Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife Brittany visited two young sisters who were both shot in the legs during the defending Super Bowl champions’ parade on Wednesday.
The Mahomeses visited 10-year-old Madison Reyes and 8-year-old Melia Reyes on Thursday at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri, where the two sisters were recovering from their surgeries.
Pictures published of People showed the quarterback and his wife, both 28, smiling next to the Reyes sisters along with their 13-year-old brother and their parents.
The Reyes family called the shooting “a senseless act” Wednesday at a celebration of the Chiefs’ third Super Bowl championship in four years. The violence left local DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan – a 43-year-old mother of two – dead, while 22 people were injured.
According to authorities, the victims were between 8 and 47 years old, half of them were under 16 years old.
“We are enthusiastic Chiefs fans and, despite all the ups and downs, we are very proud of our home team. “Madison and Melia’s lives have changed forever since Wednesday’s senseless act,” the Reyes family said in a statement People.
“At a time when they are traumatized, sad and worried, Patrick and Brittany Mahomes’ surprise appearance brought the first smiles to their faces since the tragedy,” the statement continued. “Even though they will be wearing casts for several months, they are excited to show their loved ones that Patrick signed their cast.
“We would like to thank the Mahomes family for being so kind, caring and loving to our little ones and ask the community to keep them in their prayers as they move forward with life.”
A GoFundMe campaign created for the family has raised more than $185,000 from more than 1,400 donors. Donors include Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce, who donated $100,000 through his charity Eighty-Seven and Running.
Meanwhile, pop superstar Taylor Swift – Kelce’s girlfriend – separately donated $100,000 to Lopez-Galvan’s family.
In response to the shooting, the Chiefs also launched KC Strong, an emergency fund to support victims and their families. The fund, which has raised more than $546,000 as of Saturday morning, also plans to do so Support Violence prevention and recovery organizations and first responders.
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Authorities announced that two juveniles have been charged in connection with the shooting. According to a press release from the Jackson County Family Court Division, the two were arrested on “charges related to weapons and resisting arrest.”
It added that “additional charges are expected in the future as the Kansas City Police Department’s investigation continues.”
According to the Giffords Firearms Safety Group, Missouri has been described as having “horrifically weak gun laws.” Giffords Reports that the state lacked concealed carry permits, universal background checks, gun ownership licenses, assault weapon restrictions and waiting periods.
In 2021, Missouri ranked ninth highest in the nation for gun deaths. accordingly the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
