A shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival Sunday evening left three people dead and four others injured, including a 2-year-old boy, after what police believe was a shootout between two gunmen at the popular Seattle Center event.
How It Unfolded
The shooting was initially reported just after 6 p.m. at Seattle Center, near Sue Bird Court and Thomas Street, during the Bite of Seattle festival — one of the city's largest annual events, drawing up to 350,000 attendees. Police said they heard gunshots and immediately responded, confronting a shooter who surrendered while a second person fled the scene. "There were two people who we believe were shooting at each other," said Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis, adding that attendees did not appear to have been the intended targets. Officers did not fire their own weapons during the confrontation, and two guns were recovered at the scene.
The Toll
Seven people were shot in total. Two were declared dead at the scene, and a third victim who had been hospitalized later died, according to Davis. Four others were transported to Harborview Medical Center, including a 2-year-old boy, a 23-year-old man, and a 39-year-old woman, all listed in satisfactory condition with injuries to the arm, leg, and abdomen. A 40-year-old woman with minor injuries declined transport to the hospital. Harborview was placed on lockdown for the victims' safety.
The Suspect
One suspect, described by Davis only as "a young person," is in custody and being interviewed by police. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson initially said two suspects had been detained, but this was later corrected to confirm only one person is in custody, with police continuing to search for a second individual believed to be involved. Davis said the person in custody was the only individual officers saw actively firing a weapon.
Eyewitness Accounts
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as gunfire rang out. "I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling," one witness told KING 5. Attendee Adya Sengupta said she took shelter at the Seattle Armory, where a nearby vendor, Seattle Fudge, brought dozens of people into its storefront for safety. "Inside the Seattle Armory was crazy, within seconds maybe 60-plus people had flooded the doors inside, all running towards that back corner with Seattle Fudge," Sengupta said. The Seattle Monorail was shut down for the remainder of Sunday and reopened Monday morning.
Official Response
The FBI responded to the scene, and Washington's state SWAT team was dispatched at the Seattle Police Department's request, according to Governor Bob Ferguson's office. Mayor Wilson issued a statement calling the shooting "an act of horrific violence," writing: "Impacted families are living through the worst moment of their lives, and an entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire. No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city." Davis said police believe there is no ongoing threat to the community. "I'm really sorry that this happened. The Bite of Seattle is a very positive event," he added. "We haven't had any issues in recent years, and thankfully we had officers on the scene that were brave, went to those shots, and prevented more victims from being injured."
What's Next
The investigation remains ongoing, with police continuing to search for the second suspect who fled the scene and no motive publicly disclosed as of the latest reports. Authorities said they would release further details Monday morning as the investigation continues.