Teen detained after Seattle food festival shooting possibly gang-related
A 15-year-old was ordered into juvenile detention in connection with a gunfight at Seattle's Bite of Seattle festival that left three dead and four injured, with prosecutors saying the incident may involve gang activity.
A King County Superior Court judge ordered a 15-year-old to remain in juvenile detention on Monday following a gunfight at Seattle's Bite of Seattle food festival that killed three people and injured at least four others. Prosecutors allege the teen, a 19-year-old who died at the scene, and possibly a third individual exchanged gunfire outside the Seattle Center Armory, and they indicated the shooting could be gang-related.
"We now know that at least two people exchanged gunfire outside the Seattle Center Armory. One is in custody, and a second has been identified as the 19-year-old deceased man," Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said at a news conference.
Police are reviewing video footage, analyzing bullet casings and following tips to determine the full scope of the incident. The teen faces three counts of first-degree assault and one count of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm; he had no prior criminal record in the county, according to a King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office spokesperson.
"At this point, we believe this could be gang-related. There were two groups firing," assistant chief of investigations Nicole Powell said.
The 19-year-old victim, identified as Junior Cee Niko Semo, died of multiple gunshot wounds, while two other victims, Ashley Whitehead, 56, and Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44, also died from gunshot injuries. Four additional victims, including a 2-year-old boy, were treated and released in stable condition.
Witnesses reported hearing the gunshots amid the crowd, with some initially mistaking the noise for firecrackers. Attendees were captured on social media fleeing the area, and several vendors described the chaos as people abandoned belongings while seeking safety.