Celebration turned into panic and tragedy in Kansas City on Wednesday in what was supposed to be the city celebrating the Chiefs‘ fourth Super Bowl title.
One woman, identified as radio personality Lisa Lopez-Galvan, was killed in the shooting that left 22 wounded. However, through tragedy came acts of heroism, with Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire being hailed as a hero online.
Mother of Teenage Boy Who Witnessed Shooting Thanks Clyde Edwards-Helaire
The veteran running back has been praised for his heroic act in helping shield teenage boy Zach Cotten as shots rang out nearby.
The 13-year-old boy’s mother, Penny Hall Cotten, took to her personal Facebook page to give thanks to the Super Bowl winner for shielding her son and getting him back home safely.
“Clyde even went back to check on Zach to make sure he was still doing ok. What a great human being!!!” Cotten wrote in her social media post. “But before all that unnecessary ruckus went down, Zach was having the time of his life.”
Edwards-Helaire responded to her post by sharing it on his own personal FB page.
“Hey Mrs. Penny, Zach was brave for sure!! Sorry, the family and all of Chiefs Kingdom had to experience this. Just wanted to thank Zach for trusting me and knowing I’ll protect him,” Edwards-Helaire posted.
The KC running back, who has now won two Super Bowls with the Chiefs, then shared his setback but sent a message on how to overcome a traumatic outing.
“SideNote: Being a person who suffers from PTSD, for the kids in the KC area and parents, refrain from mentioning and bringing up traumatic experiences,” Edwards-Helaire said. “Always think positive, and when those bad days come, (because they will) comfort and knowing somewhere is with you is the best (Medication).”
His final words to his post were: “To all of the Kingdom! Smile today because we can always change tomorrow.”
NFL World Reacts to Edwards-Helaire Protecting Boy
Many took to social media to commend and praise Edwards-Helaire’s act of bravery.
One was ESPN NFL reporter Coley Harvey, who called Edwards-Helaire’s heroic act and FB post “commendable.”
That’s why it’s so commendable that the Chiefs had mental health resources for staffers who worked at their facility the day after the parade.
It’s also beyond commendable to see posts like this from Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire https://t.co/VxZmUSbo15
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey)
One other NFL reporter, Cam Marino, was another who called the Chiefs RB a hero.
Clyde-Edwards Helaire (@Clydro_22) is a hero. Just heard about what he did at the parade… Wow. So much respect.🤍♥️
— Cam Marino (@MarinoNFL)
Even US Senator Bill Cassidy, who represents Edwards-Helaire’s home state of Louisiana, praised the actions of the former LSU running back.
“Former LSU running back and Baton Rouge native Clyde Edwards-Helaire demonstrated true bravery during the Kansas City Super Bowl parade. Kudos to being a hero on and off the field,” Cassidy said on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Teenage Boy and Father Speak Out About Edwards-Helaire’s Brave Act
In an interview with CBS New Bloomfield, Missouri affiliate KRCG 13, Zach Cotten revealed he attended the parade with his father, Chris, a fellow Chiefs fan.
But when the sounds of gunfire erupted, Cotten and his father became separated among the panicked spectators who tried to flee from the dangerous spot.
“I was scared and emotional because I’m 13, and I’m by myself, and there’s this big crowd. So I don’t know if I’ll get lost from my dad or not even return because you can never know what can happen in there,” Cotten said.
Edwards-Helaire, though, immediately discovered Cotten by himself and guided the teenager to safety.
“He took me to a box truck. Then he was on the phone with my dad,” Cotten described. “And he was comforting me and my dad.”
Thanks to Edwards-Helaire’s act of bravery, the boy left the parade uninjured. Cotten now looks at the Chiefs as more than football players but heroes to kids like him.
“Yeah, it was a rough day for everyone else. And I hope all of them will calm down from this. There’s always good and bad in the world,” he said.
Chris Cotten added: “People come together in times of crisis, right? And to know that somebody was there, Chiefs player or not, is just an unbelievable feeling because there is that moment where you don’t know where your child is.”
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