By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the woman killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting at a rally to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory, was a popular radio disc jockey who also played music she loved at weddings, her station and friends said.
KKFI radio said other members of the family of Lopez-Galvan, a mother of two, were wounded. Her son was shot in a leg and has since been released from hospital, while two daughters of her cousin were shot and recovering, KKFI said.
“It is with sincere sadness and an extremely heavy and broken heart that we let our community know that KKFI DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan, host of Taste of Tejano lost her life,” the station posted on Facebook.
More than 20 people were shot outside the landmark Union Station, authorities said. Lopez-Galvan, identified by police by her full name Elisabeth, was the only person to die as of Thursday afternoon. Some others were in critical condition.
Police said a personal dispute was behind the shooting. They said two juveniles and an adult were being held as suspects.
Fans, in many cases entire families, joined with Chiefs players in celebrating the team’s 25-22 NFL championship triumph over the San Francisco 49ers. An estimated one million people took part, officials said.
Lopez-Galvan graduated from the Kansas City area’s Bishop Miege High School.
In her final Facebook post on Tuesday evening she wrote: “Don’t forget to tune in tonight to A Taste of Tejano from 8pm to 10pm! Let us know if you have a birthday, anniversary or special announcement!”
Her profile on the radio station’s website said that for her “music is life and a source of happiness.”
“Lisa has been a private mobile DJ for more than 15 years. Playing for all types of crowds. So she has plenty of music knowledge,” her profile reads. Her radio program featured Hispanic music.
Lopez-Galvan died during surgery from a gunshot wound to her abdomen on Wednesday afternoon, the Kansas City Star reported.
A friend, Lisa Lopez, described her for the newspaper as “the most wonderful, beautiful person”. The friend, who was not related, added: “She did everybody’s weddings. We all know her. She was so full of life,” echoing what others told local media and said on social media.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Donna Bryson and Howard Goller)
