Shooting near England team’s World Cup base in Kansas City injures nine

A mass shooting occurred Saturday morning near England’s World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, resulting in injuries to multiple individuals, police reported. At least nine adults sustained injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals following reports of gunfire on Troost Avenue around 4 a.m., located less than four miles from England’s base camp in Swope Soccer Village. According to Captain Jake Becchina of the Kansas City Police Department, all injured individuals were receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to survive.

At the time of the incident, England’s players and staff were not in Kansas City; they were training in Florida. Currently, there are no suspects in custody, but an investigation into the shooting is underway. Police responded to calls reporting shots fired near 79th and Troost Avenue, where they found a large crowd dispersing. Initially, three women injured by gunfire were transported to local hospitals. Subsequent calls indicated an additional six injured individuals, who were also taken to hospitals via private vehicles.

The exact circumstances that led to the shooting remain unclear. One local resident, Kate Fowler, shared with the Kansas City Star that she and her husband awoke to find a bullet hole in their front window. She also noted that gunfire had been reported between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Friday, in addition to Saturday morning's events. Fowler mentioned that hearing gunshots in the neighborhood is common, typically occurring at least once a week.

On the same evening as the shooting near Troost Avenue, another incident resulted in two fatalities in Kansas City, according to KMBC News 9.

At the time of the shooting, England’s national team was playing against New Zealand in Tampa, Florida, as part of their preparations for the upcoming World Cup. England managed to secure a 1-0 victory over New Zealand Saturday afternoon. Following their match, the team is scheduled to compete against Costa Rica in Orlando later this week before returning to Kansas City for the duration of the tournament. England, along with teams like Algeria, Argentina, and the Netherlands, selected Kansas City for its central location in the U.S. and the quality of training facilities.