A quiet training ground turned crime scene
A quiet corner of Kansas City turned into a scene of chaos early this week when a gunman opened fire near the English national team’s training base, leaving nine people with non‑life‑threatening injuries.
Local police confirmed that no suspects have been apprehended and that at least three of the victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment, while the remaining six received on‑site care.
The shooting occurred roughly four miles from the Swope Soccer Village, the venue where England’s squad was slated to begin a series of pre‑tournament drills ahead of a friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando.
England’s players have not yet set foot in Kansas City; they are scheduled to travel to Florida later this week, where the match will take place, and the Football Association has declined to comment on the incident.
The episode underscores a grim reality: gun violence remains endemic in the United States, with more than 400 mass shootings recorded this year alone according to the Gun Violence Archive.