Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith has provided a detailed account of the events that unfolded during the team’s Super Bowl parade. Smith and his teammates went from celebrating their back-to-back championship to seeking shelter in a confined space with civilians, as an active shooter situation took place.
According to the latest reports, one person lost their life and 21 others sustained gunshot wounds during the tragic incident that occurred towards the end of the parade.
Smith appeared on ‘Good Morning America’ the following morning, offering a chilling perspective on how the parade started off similarly to the previous year’s, only to quickly turn into a real-life nightmare.
The former star player from Tennessee acknowledged that this became a matter of life or death when security personnel hurriedly directed the players out of the area, urging them to move quickly.
As Smith and some of his Kansas City teammates sprinted for safety, they made the decision to hide in a small room. Just before entering the crowded space, Smith noticed a young child and swiftly brought him inside with him.
“Right before I entered, there was a little kid in front of me, so I immediately pulled him in and said, ‘you’re coming in here with me, buddy,'” Smith recounted. “I’m not sure how many people ended up in the room – maybe over 20?”
Smith went on to credit long-snapper James Winchester for playing a crucial role in keeping everyone in the confined space calm amidst the uncertainty that loomed outside.
“My long snapper, James Winchester, was instrumental in maintaining a sense of calm,” Smith explained. “Eventually, we received clearance to leave. We walked to the buses.”
As Smith boarded the bus, which unexpectedly filled with fans, he noticed another frightened child. In an attempt to soothe the child’s fears, Smith handed over the WWE belt he had been carrying during the parade, diverting the child’s attention from the distressing events.
“I had the WWE belt with me throughout the entire parade,” Smith revealed. “I thought, what can I do to help him? So, I gave him the belt and said, ‘hey, you’re the champion. No one will harm you, we’ve got your back.’
“We started talking about wrestling, asking ‘who’s your favorite wrestler, what’s your favorite wrestling match.'”
“While he looked out the window and witnessed people reacting and trying to escape the situation, I handed him the belt and said, ‘here you go buddy, this is yours.'”
While Smith managed to protect one child and create a memorable moment for another, he, like everyone else, felt a deep sense of anger.
“I’m quite furious. This violence is senseless,” Smith expressed. “Children were harmed, children were traumatized. My heart aches for the affected families, the people impacted, and the city of Kansas City.”
Stephanie Meyer, the chief nursing officer for Children’s Mercy Kansas City, confirmed that the hospital was treating 12 patients from the parade, including 11 children aged between 6 and 15.
Mark covers a wide range of sports, with a keen focus on the world of golf. He holds a journalism and online media degree from the University of Tennessee, though he leaves it up to others to judge his mastery. When he’s not working, there’s a high probability you’ll find him on the golf course.
According to the Source outkick.com