Three Killed, Multiple Injured in Shooting at Seattle Food Festival as Police Search for Second Suspect

Three people were killed and several others were wounded, including a 2-year-old child, after gunfire broke out Sunday evening at Seattle’s annual Bite of Seattle festival, sending thousands of attendees scrambling for safety and triggering a massive law enforcement response.
The shooting occurred shortly after 6 p.m. local time at the Seattle Center near the Space Needle, where large crowds had gathered for the popular food festival.
Authorities said two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while several others suffering from gunshot wounds were rushed to nearby hospitals. A third victim later died after being admitted for medical treatment.
During a late-night press conference, Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said investigators believe two people were involved in the shooting. One suspect has already been taken into custody, while police continue searching for another individual believed to have participated in the attack.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Davis said authorities do not believe the public remains in danger.
“There is no outstanding threat to the community,” he told reporters.
Emergency responders quickly descended on the area following reports of gunfire.
According to the Seattle Fire Department, four victims, including the 2-year-old child, were transported from the scene to Harborview Medical Center. Another individual suffering from a gunshot wound later arrived separately at a different hospital.
Harborview Medical Center said the patients it initially received had sustained gunshot wounds affecting various parts of the body, including the arm, leg, abdomen, and lower leg.
As first responders worked to secure the area and treat the injured, videos shared online captured scenes of panic throughout the festival grounds.
Witnesses told CNN they heard multiple rounds of gunfire before crowds began fleeing in every direction through vendor booths and walkways. One attendee said many people initially mistook the loud noises for fireworks before realizing they were hearing gunshots.
Additional footage circulating online showed festival attendees taking shelter inside the Space Needle gift shop while police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel responded to the unfolding emergency.
Law enforcement agencies from across the region assisted with the response. Alongside the Seattle Police Department, officers from multiple agencies, including the FBI, converged on the scene. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson also announced that a state SWAT team had been deployed to assist authorities.
Investigators said two firearms were recovered at the scene as detectives worked to piece together what led to the violence.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or recorded video during the incident to come forward and provide information that could assist investigators.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson addressed the tragedy in a statement released late Sunday, calling the shooting “an act of horrific violence.”
The mayor said city officials are working to determine how violence erupted during an event intended to bring the community together.
“The city is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in gunfire,” Wilson said.
She also pledged transparency as the investigation continues.
“In the days ahead, we will establish what happened and be transparent with the public about what we have learned,” Wilson said. “Tonight, our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them.”
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue searching for the second suspect and collecting evidence related to the shooting.