'Respect for your heart': Chiefs’ Marquez Valdes-Scantling lauded for offering to help 11 children injured in parade shooting

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: The celebratory mood in Kansas City after the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory turned to horror when shots rang out during this week's championship parade.

While the community mourns the tragedy that left one dead and many injured, including 11 children, some rays of light have emerged.

Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is now stepping up to support the young survivors, offering compassion and material assistance as they recover, as per New York Post.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling is actively working to help affected children

In a post on X, Valdes-Scantling, known as "MVS," put out a call to help him connect with the victims, who range from 5 to 16 years old.

"First off I want to make sure they’re doing ok," he wrote. "But would love to help them out any way I can and get them some stuff from the team to help with the recovery."

A spokesperson for the NFL star confirmed he is actively working to reach the children and their families. The effort is focused entirely on supporting the victims and not bringing attention to himself, the representative emphasized.

The shooting disrupted the joyful parade when three gunmen opened fire from a location overlooking the route, injuring 22 people in total. The children were among the most seriously hurt, with nine suffering gunshot wounds, but all are expected to fully recover, according to doctors at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

The chaos also brought out the protective instincts of several Chiefs players who comforted frightened children in the immediate aftermath.

Kansas City Chiefs players provided comfort to children amid chaos

Offensive lineman Trey Smith handed his championship wrestling belt to a young boy who appeared anxious next to his father after the shots rang out. Defensive tackle Chris Jones also sheltered terrified children while assuring them, "You're loved."

Even Head Coach Andy Reid provided reassurance, embracing 10th grader Gabe Wallace and encouraging him to "just breathe" until the danger passed.

The shooting stemmed from a personal dispute unrelated to terrorism, according to police. While two juvenile suspects are in custody, the violence left mother-of-two and dedicated Chiefs fan Lisa Lopez-Galvan dead.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling's initiative impresses Internet

Valdes-Scantling's initiative to aid the affected children quickly resonated across the Internet, sparking a wave of admiration and gratitude.

One X user expressed, "Respect for your heart and compassion." Another user chimed in, "What a fine man you are." A third user conveyed their sentiment with a simple yet heartfelt message, "Love you MVS."

"You're a good guy, MVS! Glad to be a fan of yours," a tweet read. Another emphasized, "MVS is a real one for this. Much love."

"MVS, thank you for thinking about the kids, man," someone else wrote.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.