SEATTLE, Washington – Three people were killed and four others, including a 2-year-old boy, were injured after gunfire erupted during Seattle’s annual Bite of Seattle festival on Sunday, prompting a large police response and the evacuation of the Seattle Center near the Space Needle.
Seattle police arrested one suspect at the scene and continued searching for a second person believed to have exchanged gunfire with the first. Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis said investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other and that authorities do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public, despite the second suspect remaining at large.
Police had not released a description of the outstanding suspect as of Sunday night.
Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third later died at a hospital. Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Grace Nuñez said the four injured victims were hospitalized in stable condition. In addition to the toddler, the remaining injured victims are adults. Davis said investigators have not determined whether any of the victims were involved in the confrontation.
Shooting Disrupts Major Seattle Festival
The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. during the final hours of the three-day Bite of Seattle festival, one of the city’s largest annual public events, attracting hundreds of food vendors, retail exhibitors and live performers.
Davis said dozens of police officers were already assigned to provide security when some witnessed one of the suspects firing a weapon. One suspect surrendered to officers at the scene, while the second fled before police could make an arrest. Officers conducted an extensive search of the festival grounds but did not locate the remaining suspect.
Emergency responders and law enforcement evacuated the Seattle Center campus as officers secured the area and treated the victims.
Witnesses Describe Panic as Crowds Fled
Festival attendee Faith Adia Hunter said she and her friends had just purchased food from a crepe stand when gunfire erupted nearby.
“We were right next to him when it started so we took off running,” Hunter said.
She and others sought shelter inside the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum as crowds rushed to escape.
The sudden violence triggered widespread panic across the festival grounds. Many vendors abandoned food, equipment and tents as people fled the area.
Vendor Roberto Ramirez said he initially thought the sounds were fireworks before hearing people shout that there was an active shooter.
“Suddenly everything was empty. People were freaked out,” Ramirez said.
He said some festivalgoers continued arriving after the shooting, unaware of what had happened, before officers directed them to leave the area.
Another attendee, Estan Wakonabo, said he and his girlfriend were waiting in line for a photo booth when people began pushing past them in an effort to escape.
“People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” Wakonabo said.
After helping his girlfriend reach safety, he returned and saw several victims lying on the ground.
Investigation Continues
Authorities continued investigating the shooting Sunday night while searching for the second suspect.
Police said detectives are working to determine how the confrontation unfolded and have not publicly identified either suspect or any of the victims. Investigators also have not determined whether the victims were targeted or were bystanders caught in the exchange of gunfire.
The Bite of Seattle festival, established in 1982, typically attracts about 350,000 attendees over three days, according to the event’s website, making it one of Seattle’s largest annual public gatherings.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
