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Kicker sent message to family of woman killed in parade

Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the Catholic mother killed, was impressed with Butker’s faith

Published: March 1, 2024   

By Jack Figge
OSV News

OSV News photo/Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports via Reuters
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker kicks the game-winning 58-yard field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers during overtime at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Sept. 20, 2020.

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker donated a jersey and sent a touching message to the family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the Catholic mother killed during a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade.

In a message sent to the family, Butker expressed his sorrow at the death of Lopez-Galvan.

"My wife Isabelle and I are heartbroken by the murder of Lisa due to degenerate violence. Murder is a sin that cries out to God for vengeance, and I pray the men involved in this tragedy will be brought to justice," Butker said.

Lopez-Galvan was fatally shot during the Feb. 14 parade celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs' 25-22 Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49ers. She was shot during a melee that formed when Dominic Miller, 18, and Lyndell Mays, 23, allegedly pulled out guns during an argument and began shooting. Both face charges of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. They are being held on $1 million bond.

In addition to Lopez-Galvan's death, 22 other civilians, including 12 children, were injured by the gunfire.

Lopez-Galvan, an active parishioner at Sacred Heart Guadalupe Church in Kansas City, Mo., and mother of two, was wearing a Harrison Butker jersey when she was killed. After the shooting, her family shared that Lopez-Galvan was a fan of the kicker because of his public witness to the Catholic faith.

Butker frequently shares and posts about his love for the Catholic faith. Last year, a photo of Butker wearing a brown scapular while kicking the game-winning field goal in the Chiefs' Super Bowl victory over the Eagles went viral in Catholic circles. This year the kicker showed up to the Super Bowl parade with ashes on his forehead, since the parade was on Ash Wednesday.

The family shared that they wished for Lopez-Galvan to be buried in a white Butker jersey similar to the one that she wore to the parade. After struggling to find a replica, a family member sent a plea on X (formerly Twitter) asking for help to locate the jersey. Eventually, the post garnered the attention of Butker.

When he learned that Lopez-Galvan was a fan, Butker sent the family a jersey along with the message. In the message, he shared that when he learned Lopez-Galvan was an active Catholic, it made the shooting even more personal.

"Hearing that she was a fan of my outspokenness for our shared Catholic faith makes this even more personal. I am honored to provide a jersey to the family for her to wear," Butker said.

In his message, Butker said that he will continue to keep Lopez-Galvan and her family in his prayers, saying, "While the family is mourning their loss and grappling with their numerous injuries, I will continue to pray for their healing and the repose of Lisa's soul."

After the evening visitation for Lopez-Galvan Feb. 23 at Redemptorist Catholic Church, a funeral Mass for her was to be celebrated Feb. 24 at the same church. Both events were open to the public, with the burial after the funeral for family only.

One of her fellow parishioners, Monica Palacio, shared with OSV News that Lopez-Galvan was always the "life of the party" and so much more.

"She was an amazing person," Palacio said. "She was full of joy all the time, no matter where she was."

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