KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was shot and killed in the mass shooting that erupted at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl rally in February 2024, left the Jackson County courthouse in tears on Monday afternoon.

When told on Tuesday that 20-year-old Dominic M. Miller — who was originally charged with second-degree felony murder and three other counts in the death of the 43-year-old mother — had pleaded to a lesser charge, thus receiving a mostly time-served, two-year sentence for his actions, another victim, Jacob Gooch Jr., was flabbergasted.

“This is 100%?” asked Gooch of Leavenworth. “The dude that shot the gun that killed Lisa is being released? It’s absurd, and really unfair, especially to the family. I mean, it doesn’t make any difference to me, but to the people who lost Lisa, they would want a little more justice than that.”

Wounded twice, once in the leg and once in the foot, Gooch is one of 23 people who were shot that day, Feb. 14, when gunfire between rival factions erupted at the rally, causing mass panic at Kansas City’s Union Station. Emily Tavis, Gooch’s now former wife, was also shot in the calf. Lopez-Galvan’s death was the single fatality. Eleven children were among the wounded.

Antonio Arellano’s son, Samuel, then 10 years old, was one of them. A bullet pierced his left side, landing millimeters from his lungs.

“I think that’s a ridiculous sentence,” Arellano said Tuesday, adding that his son is “very upset.” “I think it’s a very, very light sentence. I mean two years? Pretty sure then he’s about to be released. Really, that’s crazy.”

Chasitty Logsdon, a nurse from Kentucky, who jumped into action at the rally to help a gunshot victim who turned out to be one of the alleged shooters, had a similar reaction.

“Doesn’t seem like a lot of time,” she said. “I feel for (Lopez-Galvan’s) family. They’re never going to see her again.” She said of Miller, “He’ll be free.”

“That shooting has affected my family more than I can express,” said Logsdon, adding that she now has trouble being in large crowds and struggles when she hears loud sounds. Her son, 7, is in therapy. “It’s so crazy to think that one second in time would matter that much.”

Miller is one of three adults to be accused of murder during the Chief’s celebration.

The others are Lyndell Mays, 25, of Raytown and Terry Young, 22, of Kansas City. Three teenagers have also been charged in the shooting, including a 15-year-old who, in July 2024, was ordered to serve a term at a state facility for youths after admitting to the charges of unlawful use of a weapon and knowingly discharging or firing a firearm at a person.

Miller, who was to stand trial in April, was originally charged with second-degree felony murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action. The other adults are similarly charged.

But on Monday, before Judge Kevin D. Harrell, the murder and armed criminal action charges were dropped in return for Miller pleading guilty to one count of unlawful use of a weapon. He was sentenced to two years in prison, with credit for time served.

Given the time Miller has served, his attorney said that Miller would likely be released “soon.”

Mays is scheduled to stand trial in March 2027. A trial date has not been set yet for Young.

Prosecutor argues she must follow the law

Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson’s office released a statement Monday arguing that the Missouri’s self-defense and defense-of-others doctrines provided her office with limited options.

The prosecutor also released an Instagram video saying that while the legislature makes laws, her duty is to follow them.

She said Missouri has some of the “most expansive self-defense laws in the entire country.”

“It is probably the most difficult aspect of my job, knowing something happened, knowing that it was wrong, but being barred by the laws on the books to be able to seek justice and accountability on behalf of the families. . .

“Nobody is soft on crime around here,“ Johnson said. “But we do have an ethical and legal obligation to follow the law on the books.”

The prosecutor’s written statement went into greater depth.

“Our thoughts continue to be with Lisa Lopez-Galvan’s family during this difficult time,” it read. “Under Missouri’s self-defense and defense-of-others doctrines, we must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any charged defendant was the initial aggressor or did not act in lawful self-defense or defense of others to overcome justification.

“The evidence available showed he (Miller) was not the first to fire, nor was the available evidence able to confirm his shot caused the victim’s death.”

The prosecutor said that her office had consulted with the Galvan family throughout the process and “they understand the limitations presented under Missouri law in these circumstances.”

The office also released a statement which it said came from the family.

“The greatest justice would be having Lisa back,” it said, “but since that is not possible, accountability still matters. 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 mother is dead’

Others also believe the sentence was too short.

Critics include the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a non-profit formerly known as the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, which was formed in 2022 following the mass shooting of 19 chldren and two teachers a Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

In a statement following Monday’s plea agreement, the organization said it “rejects the decision to drop the murder charge in connection with the Kansas City Chiefs rally shooting.” “A mother is dead,” the statement said. “Children were injured. Families ran for their lives during what should have been a moment of celebration for an entire city. And yet, the most serious charge connected to that loss of life has now been removed from the case. “While we respect the independence of the courts, we cannot remain silent when outcomes fail to reflect the magnitude of the harm inflicted on a community.”

The statement continues, “The death of Lisa Lopez-Galvan was not an abstract legal theory — it was a real human life taken in the middle of a family event attended by thousands. “Justice must mean more than technical thresholds. It must acknowledge the devastating consequences of reckless violence in public spaces. ...Today’s outcome risks sending the message that the legal system struggles to fully confront the consequences of gun violence when chaos and multiple actors are involved. ... We cannot allow accountability to fade when tragedies occur in crowded public spaces.

“And we cannot forget the victims.”

‘Loophole law’

Jackson County Legislature Chairman Manuel “Manny” Abarca also weighed in with a written statement, saying, “Our hearts remain with the family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan and with the entire Kansas City community, still grieving the tragedy that unfolded during last year’s (sic) Chiefs Super Bowl celebration.

“No legal outcome can restore the life that was lost or undo the trauma so many experienced that day. We respect the role of prosecutors and the legal standards required under Missouri law. At the same time, cases like this raise difficult questions about whether our laws are giving communities the tools they need to fully deliver accountability when lives are taken in acts of gun violence. . .

“Prosecutors can only prosecute the laws on the books, and when bad laws protect bad actors, we are all unsafe. Tonight, I mourn for Lisa, her family, and all the victims of this loophole law.”

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