Another gunman from the horrific 2024 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting has received a “wrist slap” sentence, resulting in widespread disappointment, including from the family of a victim who died.
Beloved Kansas City DJ Lisa Lopez-Galvan was shot and killed in the shooting at a Chiefs rally following a Super Bowl parade in 2024 and over 20 other people were injured. Over 10 people pulled guns, of which at least six were fired.
“The Lisa Lopez Galvan family continues to mourn the devastating loss of our beloved Lisa,” the victim’s family writes in a statement.
“We hope our community remembers that behind every headline is a family whose lives have been forever changed.”
Rally gunman Terry Young accepted a plea deal Friday and received a two-year prison sentence. He was originally charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. Young pled guilty to the least of these crimes – the weapons charge – and the other charges were subsequently dropped.
This guy took part in a murder at the Super Bowl parade and your DA is letting him get out of jail with “time served” plea deal after only two years.
It’s not a “narrative” to say you’re soft on crime.
It’s a fact. pic.twitter.com/tx7PKx0oD8
— Governor Dill (@TheGreenOldDill) April 19, 2026
“Today’s hearing is another painful reminder that while these cases may move through the legal system, our family continues to live with the loss of Lisa every single day,” Galvan’s family wrote.
Young was arrested in March 2024 and gets credit for the time he’s already served, meaning he’ll likely be released from jail soon.
Dominic Miller also faced a second-degree murder charge for his involvement in the shootout, but a plea deal last month resulted in all charges dropped except for unlawful use of a weapon, resulting in a two-year sentence. He had already served two years in prison and was expected to be released soon after the plea deal, just like Young.
“We are disappointed that the outcome in this case is the same as the last,” Galvan’s family says. “As this case comes to a close, we are reminded that no court outcome can truly measure what was taken from us.”
Another gunman, Asere Mekenon, was 16 years old when he fired a gun at the rally. He was charged with unlawful use of a weapon and resisting arrest, but a judge decided he shouldn’t be tried as an adult. He was released after spending some time at Missouri Division of Youth Services.
Years after his discharge, he’s facing felony charges related to an armed robbery he allegedly committed in February.
The deals awarded to the suspects in the rally shooting have community members questioning whether Kansas City is too soft on crime.
Tony’s Kansas City writes that although the rally shooting was truly historic, “already the horrific moment is fading into history and now Kansas City residents are only left with disappointment and loss in the aftermath.”
Residents commented in disgust on local TV station Fox 4’s post about Young’s plea deal on X:
“Something is seriously wrong in KCMO – prosecutors won’t uphold the law and leftist judges won’t keep criminals behind bars,” one person writes.
“Just another day in Mayor Q’s KC,” another comments.
“What! 2 little girls were shot. Their aunt died,” declares a third. “The whole city was traumatized. There should be consequences for actions.”
Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson released a statement on the case citing Missouri’s self-defense laws as the reason greater sentences couldn’t be issued.
“While we are not satisfied with today’s outcome and share in the disappointment expressed by Lisa’s family, our duty requires us to continually evaluate each case under the constraints of existing law to determine a resolution commensurate with each defendant’s conduct,” she wrote.
Johnson says prosecutors must prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that a suspect wasn’t acting in self-defense or defense-of-others, which wasn’t possible in either Young’s or Miller’s case.
Lyndell Mays is the last suspect who awaits sentencing for his involvement in the shootout and is accused of starting it. He’s facing charges of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon, according to Fox. He’s scheduled to appear in court March 3, 2027.
“There is still one more case ahead, and this office will continue to pursue justice within the bounds of the law,” Johnson said. “As we move forward, we ask our community to stand with us in honoring Lisa and supporting her children and family.”
