One suspect arrested as police search for a second
SEATTLE — Three people were killed, including two who died at the scene, and four others were wounded when gunfire erupted Sunday evening at a crowded food festival at the Seattle Center near the city’s Space Needle.
Shots rang out around 6 p.m. local time at the Bite of Seattle festival, an annual event that draws hundreds of food and retail vendors, performers, and about 350,000 attendees over three days. Police officers providing security at the event witnessed one of the suspects firing, and Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other.
One suspect surrendered at the scene and was taken into custody. A second suspect fled, and a search of the festival grounds was unsuccessful, Davis said. Despite the suspect remaining at large, Davis said there was no continuing threat to the public.
The three people killed were identified as two men, ages 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman, according to the Seattle Police Department. Two died at the scene, and the third died later at a hospital.
Four other people were wounded, including a two-year-old boy. All four were hospitalized and in stable condition as of Monday, police said, while a fifth person who was injured declined hospital treatment.
Mayor Katie Wilson initially stated that two suspects had been taken into custody before updating her statement later Sunday evening.
Faith Adia Hunter, an attendee, told the Associated Press that she and her friends had just gotten food from a crepe vendor when the shooting began.
“We were right next to him when it started so we took off running,” Hunter said.
“Into the building with the crowd,” she added.
Roberto Ramirez, a vendor at the festival, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers before people began yelling “shooter” and fleeing.
“Suddenly everything was empty,” Ramirez said. “People were freaked out.”
Many vendors abandoned their food stands and bolted for exits as police and emergency workers evacuated the area. Hours later, some vendors milled outside the police tape, waiting to retrieve their equipment.
Estan Wakonabo said he and his girlfriend were waiting in line for a photo booth when he was shoved from behind and turned to see a rush of people fleeing.
“People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” Wakonabo said, adding that he then heard gunshots. “Once I heard a ‘pop, pop, pop,’ that’s when I knew it was a shooter.”
Wakonabo said he escorted his girlfriend to safety and returned to the scene, where he saw multiple victims on the ground.
The U.S. flag atop the Space Needle was lowered to half-mast following the shooting.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson condemned the shooting as an act of “senseless violence” in a social media post.
“My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe,” Ferguson said.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who represents Seattle, said she was in close contact with local and state officials.
“Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this senseless violence,” Jayapal wrote on social media.
Mayor Wilson described the shooting as an “act of horrific violence” and said the city was focused on the victims and their families.
“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,” Wilson said. “Tonight, our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them.”
The shooting at the Bite of Seattle was among more than 270 mass shootings recorded in the United States so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The nonpartisan resource defines mass shootings as those in which four or more people are wounded or killed.