A man who was one of the suspects in a deadly shooting that marred the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2024 Super Bowl rally outside Union Station will spend two years in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge related to the incident.
On March 9 in Jackson County, Dominic M. Miller, 20, of Kansas City, Missouri, was sentenced to two years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for unlawful use of a weapon for his involvement in the February 2024 Chiefs rally shooting that killed Shawnee radio DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan and injured 23 others.
Originally charged with second-degree murder, Miller pleaded guilty to the lesser charge and was sentenced by Jackson County Judge Jalilah Otto.
The second-degree murder charge had been dropped as part of a plea deal.
The state did not have enough evidence to convict Miller beyond a reasonable doubt, Melesa Johnson, Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney, stated in a press release posted on Monday on social media.
“The evidence available showed he was not the first to fire, nor was the available evidence able to confirm his shot caused the victim’s death,” she stated.
Lopez-Galvan’s family was notified about the reduced charges, Johnson added in the statement.
“Our office consulted with the victim’s family throughout the process, and they understand the limitations presented under Missouri law in these circumstances,” she stated.
“Accountability still matters”
Lopez-Galvan’s family, quoted in the same release from Johnson’s office, said they are continuing to seek accountability.
“The greatest justice would be having Lisa back, but since that is not possible, accountability still matters,” they said.
They added, “We also share the hope expressed in court that change can come from this and that people recognize the importance of making better choices. Our family continues to focus on honoring Lisa’s life and supporting her children and loved ones.”
A celebrated DJ working under the name “DJ Lisa G,” Lopez-Galvan entertained people at parties and on the radio with the program “A Taste of Tejano” on independent radio station KKFI 90.1 FM.
Her death rippled beyond the Kansas City area, getting national press, including a GoFundMe that received two donations from Taylor Swift.
“This had a huge impact, not just in the Latino community, but in Greater Kansas City, it’s had a huge impact,” Joe Arce, publisher of the KC Hispanic News, told the Johnson County Post soon after Lopez-Galvan’s death.
The Chiefs paid tribute to Lopez-Galvan at their 2024 season’s home opener at Arrowhead Stadium during the pregame ceremonies, with a moment of silence and artist Tasha Cobbs-Leonard singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
“It’s a bittersweet thing,” Mike Galvan, Lopez-Galvan’s husband, told the Kansas City Star at the time. “My wife was a big Chiefs fan. It’s going to be a very emotional thing for our family, but she loved her Chiefs and would love for us to be there.”
Investigators say the shooting was the result of an argument
The Chiefs rally shooting started with an argument between Lyndell Mays, who is still awaiting trial in Jackson County Court for a litany of charges, including second-degree murder, and another group, court documents stated.
A witness who was with Mays told Kansas City Police the conflict started when Mays and another group were “arguing about why they were staring at each other.”
“Lyndell Mays confirmed that he drew a gun first, in a crowd of people with kids, picked one of the individuals in the group at random, and started shooting, all because they said, ‘I’m going to get you’ and to him, that meant, ‘I’m going to kill you,’” according to a probable cause statement.
Interviewed at a hospital, Mays said his actions were “stupid.”
“Just pulled a gun out and started shooting,” Mays told police, according to court records. “I shouldn’t have done that. Just being stupid.”
Miller, who was shot during the melee, was tackled by bystanders in the center median of Pershing Road, according to the probable cause statement.
Miller’s gun, which he carried in his waistband, was allegedly a black Taurus G3 9mm pistol. Tests showed that the bullet recovered from Lopez-Galvan’s body “was fired from the Taurus G3 9mm, the firearm Miller acknowledged possessing and firing,” according to the statement.
What’s next
Mays, of Raytown, Missouri, is still awaiting trial for second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and causing catastrophe.
His next scheduled court appearance in Jackson County is in March 2027.
A third person, Terry Young, 22, also faces a second-degree murder charge. A juvenile was also charged, and his case was resolved in family court, according to KCUR.
