Family sues Kansas City, KC Sports Commission & several others for 2024 Chiefs parade shooting

Editor's note: A "straw purchaser" is someone who buys a firearm for someone who is prohibited by law from possessing one, or for someone who does not want their name associated with it.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Several people are suing the individuals and companies connected with the 2024 Chiefs parade shooting that killed one person and injured 22 others, including 11 children.

Erika Reyes is suing on behalf of herself and her two children. All three of them were shot during the parade celebration on Feb. 14, 2024, according to a lawsuit filed in Jackson County on Monday.

Kathleen Martinez is suing on behalf of herself and her children, one of which was shot during the parade.

Esmeralda Ortiz is suing on behalf of herself and her child. Neither of them were shot during the parade, but the lawsuit alleges that the two suffered severe emotional distress and anxiety after watching their family get shot.

Attorneys told FOX4 that the plaintiffs in this lawsuit are family. Two of them are cousins and two are related by marriage, according to attorneys.

The three women are suing the city itself, as well as the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission and Union Station.

They are suing the following individuals:

• Dominic Miller
• Lyndell Mays
• Terry Young
• John Doe 1
• John Doe 2
• John Doe 3
• Fedo Antonia Manning
• Ronnel Dewayne Williams Jr.
• Chaelyn Hendrick Groves

They are also suing the following entities and businesses:

• Union Station Kansas City, Inc.
• City of Kansas City
• The Greater Kansas City Sports Commission
• O'Neill Events & Marketing
• Flyover Event Co. LLC
• Frontier Justice LS, LLC
• The Ammo Box L.L.C.
• R.K. Shows Mo Inc.

The lawsuit argues that "the defendants each caused or contributed to cause the injuries" sustained by Reyes, Ortiz, Martinez and their children.

Lawsuit argues parade was 'completely devoid of physical security measures'

According to the lawsuit, the deadly shooting was the "direct and proximate result of the negligence, carelessness, violations and failures" of the city and Union Station – as well as the Greater Kansas City Sports Commission, O'Neill Events & Marketing and Flyover Event Co.

"Responsibility for the shooting and injuries does not solely lie with the perpetrators of the shooting—systemic failures and negligence at multiple levels contributed to this tragedy," the lawsuit states.

"It was a preventable calamity, borne of systemic failures and negligence from the top down."

The lawsuit argues that the parade's "inadequate security measures left hundreds of thousands of invitees vulnerable."

According to the lawsuit, the parade was "completely devoid of physical security measures, such as checkpoints and metal detectors, which are necessary at mass gathering events."

The lawsuit says the parade celebration was held on property owned by Union Station and the city, and the shooting took place in part on property owned by Union Station.

Since this was not the first time that gun violence occurred at Union Station, the lawsuit argues that Union Station and the city "knew or should have known the consequences of inadequate security measures, including the injury and death of their invitees."

However, both failed to adequately plan the security and implement physical security measures, such as checkpoints, barriers and security equipment (magnetometers, X-Ray machines), according to the lawsuit.

Manning purchased 40 firearms in 8 months, lawsuit says

From May 2022 to January 2022, the lawsuit says Manning purchased 40 firearms – more than half of which were bought from Frontier Justice.

"Manning frequented Frontier Justice because he knew it to be an easy place to purchase firearms where no one would question his purchases," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit says Manning entered into a plea agreement, admitting that he was buying firearms as a "straw purchaser" – which Frontier Justice should have known given the repetitive nature of Manning's purchases.

Frontier Justice and Ammo Box – two gun sellers – are both accused of negligently selling firearms to Manning and Williams, respectively.

By selling them the firearms, the lawsuit argues that Frontier Justice and Ammo Box "acted with complete indifference or with reckless disregard for the rights of others."

The lawsuit says Ammo Box employees had an obligation to use their judgment and refuse to sell Williams a firearm. It argues that Ammo Box should have known Williams was a straw purchaser for Groves.

The lawsuit argues that Frontier Justice and Ammo Box, along with R.K. Shows Mo Inc. – which according to its own website is one of the largest gun and knife show promoters in the U.S. – "facilitate violence for profit."

"They use sales and marketing practices to create and feed a consumer base of young, impulsive men to line their pockets," the lawsuit states.

"Gun sellers play a pivotal role in safeguarding our communities by ensuring that the deadly weapons they sell do not end up in the wrong hands," the lawsuit argues.

Frontier Justice and Ammo Box "abandoned this role and their community," the lawsuit says.

According to the lawsuit, the gun sellers turned a blind eye and enabled criminals to easily obtain deadly weapons – leading to the tragedy on Feb. 14, 2024.

The lawsuit also accuses Frontier Justice and Ammo Box of lax sales practices while arguing that R.K. Shows is guilty of lax supervision at its gun shows – selling tickets to "kids" as low as $6 at its event on Nov. 25, 2023 at the KCI Expo Center.

"Gun shows are particularly problematic when it comes to straw purchases," the lawsuit argues. "According to the ATF, 30 percent of guns involved in federal illegal gun trafficking investigations are connected in some way to gun shows."

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) provides broad immunity to gun sellers. However, attorneys told FOX4 that gun sellers do not have immunity for negligent entrustment – which is what Frontier Justice and Ammo Box are being sued for. 

Many of the victims injured in the shooting were collateral damage of the two groups who opened fire on one another during the crowded parade celebration.

Miller, Mays, Young and John Doe 1, 2 and 3 are accused of "escalating a dispute that they knew or should have known to be likely to turn violent."

The lawsuit also accuses them of negligence, as well as "failing to properly aim or control their weapons when returning fire" – which resulted in several parade attendees being hit by gunfire.

FOX4 has reached out to most of the defendants in this lawsuit – except for Manning, Williams, Groves and John Doe 1, 2 and 3.

The city provided the following statement:

"The City of Kansas City recognizes the widespread impact the Super Bowl rally shooting had on our community. The City condemns the criminal actions that brought violence to what should have been a celebratory event. While the City has not yet been served with the petition, we will review it carefully once received and respond in accordance with the law."

The Kansas City Sports Commission refused to comment, and we have not received any other responses at this time.

Reyes, Martinez and Ortiz are demanding a jury trial to determine the amount of damages they are owed.