Seattle food festival shooting leaves three dead as second suspect remains at large
Authorities confirm one suspect is in custody while a second flees the scene; officials believe the gunfire was exchanged between the suspects.
Three people have been killed and several others injured during a shooting incident at the Bite of Seattle food festival on Sunday evening, prompting a major police response and a halt to the annual event at the Seattle Centre. The shots were fired at approximately 18:00 local time near the iconic Space Needle, disrupting a gathering that had been hosting the festival across the weekend.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson confirmed that one suspect was taken into custody following the incident, though she initially reported two arrests before updating her statement later that evening. Assistant Chief of Seattle Police Tyrone Davis stated that a second suspect fled the scene and has not yet been apprehended. Police believe the suspects were shooting at each other, although the exact motive remains under investigation.
The casualty count includes two deaths confirmed at the scene and one person who died later in hospital. Among the injured is a two-year-old boy. Four other victims were taken to hospital in stable condition, while a fifth person declined medical treatment. The Seattle Police Department has urged the public to avoid the area as the investigation remains ongoing.
Video footage circulated online showed attendees seeking shelter inside the Space Needle, with people seen crouching behind pillars and merchandise shelves in the building's lobby. The US flag atop the landmark was lowered to half-mast following the incident. Mayor Wilson described the event as an "act of horrific violence," noting that the community was struggling to understand how a gathering built around culture and connection ended in gunfire.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal condemned the shooting as "senseless violence." Governor Ferguson expressed his prayers for the victims' families and first responders, while Congresswoman Jayapal confirmed that state and federal representatives were coordinating across multiple levels of government to manage the situation and provide updates.
