Kansas City shooting suspect's mother launches fundraising appeal for him

Lyndell Mays claims he drew his weapon because a group at the Kansas parade said they were going to ‘get’ him – Splash News

A GoFundMe page has been created for a man accused of opening fire at a Super Bowl victory parade in Kansas City.

Teneal Burnside created the online fundraising page for her son, Lyndell Mays, to help him through “this tragic time” and pay for his medical bills after the mass shooting in Missouri.

A screenshot from the GoFundMe page, which has since been deleted, showed it had raised $100 (£80) from a single donation.

One woman was killed and more than 20 people, including several children, were wounded as they gathered to watch the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory parade last week.

“[Mays] is in the ICU fighting for a recovery from several surgeries from going to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration with his older sister,” Ms Burnside wrote, according to the New York Post.

“Getting shot multiple times at a time that was meant to bring so much joy to so many has brought pain and sadness to all that was attending.”

“I give thanks to all [who are] helping him along his long recovery. God bless everyone who has been affected by this sad ordeal,” she added.

According to court documents published by the local prosecutor’s office, Mays, 23, was drawn into an argument with a group of people and approached them in an “aggressive manner”.

He then allegedly pulled out a handgun, pointed it at one of the individuals and began running and firing at him.

Mays claimed he drew his weapon because the group said they were going to “get” him – which he took to mean, “I’m going to kill you”, the documents stated.

He told police: “Stupid, man. Just pulled a gun out and started shooting. I shouldn’t have done that. Just being stupid.”

In response, people in the crowd pulled out their weapons and began shooting at Mays, who was hit by gunfire.

One of them was Dominic Miller, 18, who is believed to have fired the bullet that killed Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a 43-year-old DJ and mother of two children. He was later shot in the back by an unknown individual.

Both men were taken to hospital and on Tuesday were charged with second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

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