If you weren’t at Arrowhead last Sunday, like most of Kansas City, you were likely glued to your television set. For 50 years, this town has waited for another chance to bring home the coveted Lombardi trophy. With Kansas City’s sweetheart Patrick Mahomes at the leading position, we will finally see our Chiefs in the big game.

With the AFC Championship’s Lamar Hunt trophy now in its rightful home, Kansas City is already celebrating. Fans packed local sporting goods retailers, searching for t-shirts, hats, or bobbleheads. A few stores had lines of people who waited upwards of four hours for the championship merchandise. Four hours for a gray t-shirt! And we haven’t even made it to Miami yet.

However, the celebration quickly turned sour late Sunday night. On January 19, at about 11:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 4800 block of Noland Rd. on a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers located one deceased adult female and one deceased adult male. As the investigation unfolded, at least 15 other victims arrived at area hospitals, with three listed as being in critical condition.

An armed security guard at the business engaged the shooter outside of the establishment. KCPD reported that they believe the shooter is the deceased adult male, and a motive or the circumstances leading up to the shooting are unknown. The nightclub, 9ine Ultra Lounge, has seen its share of violence, with police reporting to have been called to the location seven times this month.

“This city will never stand up for this type of gun violence. We will continue to try and stop it before it starts and we will make sure that in any investigation we are bringing folks to justice,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas during a press conference held on Monday afternoon. “We’ve got a problem in Kansas City. We’ve said a few times that it is an epidemic of gun violence. We’re losing too many lives. We have too many people shot each year. We remain committed, both at City Hall and at the Police Department, and in every agency in Kansas City in making sure that we stop this problem.”

Kansas City Police Chief Richard Smith said that as part of a proactive approach, police had just left the nightclub prior to the shooting on Sunday.

“Officers had done a check of the parking lot and were less than a minute out when we received our first call,” said Smith.

Less than a minute. It took less than one minute for chaos to ensue, and for a young woman to lose her life. The gunman, it turns out, was just released from probation on a prior felony conviction and should not have had a gun in the first place.

These shootings, which are marring the celebrations of life, are happening all too frequently. Grandview and South Kansas City are feeling the violence, as incidents are occurring right in our own backyards. We do have a problem in Kansas City, like Mayor Lucas said. It’s a serious problem, and it’s one that affects every single one of us. It’s not just here, it’s everywhere.

I’m looking forward to a Chiefs victory in a few Sundays. I’m looking forward to celebrating with the rest of our great city. But, to be brutally honest, I’ll be celebrating this one at home, with my family close, and without the threat of violence and gunfire, hoping that no one rains on this parade.