What was the Union Station Massacre that Kansas City suffered 90 years back, similar to the tragedy at Chiefs Super Bowl parade?

On Wednesday, Kansas City once again witnessed similar incident as the tragic massacre 90 years prior.

What was the Union Station Massacre that Kansas City suffered 90 years back, similar to the tragedy at Chiefs Super Bowl parade?

Leawood police officers walk near the scene of a shooting at Union Station after the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade in Kansas City. At the end of the victory parade shots were fired near Union Station Kansas City (Image via IMAGO)

Wednesday’s shooting inside Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, brought back bad memories from another horrific incident 90 years earlier. The tragic tale, which is now famous by the name of the ‘Kansas City massacre‘ to this day, sends chills down the locals’ spines.

On June 17, 1933, a group of law enforcement officers were escorting a convicted bank robber named Frank Nash. On their route from Union Station to the federal prison, their convoy came under attack. The planned ambush was led by notorious criminal figure “Pretty Boy” Floyd.

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A barrage of bullets rammed the police vehicle, carrying Nash. One unarmed FBI agent and three armed Kansas City Police Department police officers died in the confrontation. This incident left a deep scar in the city’s history. It will forever be remembered as a violent clash between law enforcement and organized crime.

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A day of celebration turned into a nightmare for Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs announced a victory parade for the city of Kansas and Chiefs fans. On Wednesday, the route leading to the station was packed with fans who had been waiting all morning for a glimpse of their favorite players carrying the Lombardi trophy.

Kansas City police are seen at Union Station, where a shooting broke out during the Chiefs Super Bowl victory rally on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Image via IMAGO)

However, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs cavalry couldn’t have guessed in their wildest dreams that after they promised to bring the trophy back to Kansas in 2025, there would be gunmen opening fire on the crowd. The suddenness of the attack left 22 people injured, among whom 11 were children.

A Chiefs fan heroically caught one of the perpetrators trying to flee the scene of the crime. The Kansas City Police apprehended three individuals suspected to be the ones who shot the bullets. The grim shadow of 90 years ago returned to Union Station, albeit in a different context.

While the police are still looking into the identities of the suspects, their preliminary investigation suggested that it was more of a criminal nature as opposed to terrorism. Life is very unpredictable; one moment fans were laughing, singing, and jumping in joy, and another they were running away from impending death.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas was among those who ran for cover amidst the shooting at Union Station. Lucas later told Reuters,

Parades, rallies, schools, movies—it seems like almost nothing is safe. We became part of a statistic of too many Americans, those who have experienced or been part of or connected to a mass shooting.

In both circumstances, Union Station of Kansas City served as a focal point, even though they are 90 years apart. The Kansas City massacre will always remain a big stain in the city’s history, and yesterday’s chaos at the parade would give the residents sleepless nights for a while.

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