Three killed, four injured in Seattle Center food festival shooting
A shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle left three dead and four wounded; police arrested one suspect and are searching for another.
Police said a shooting at the annual Bite of Seattle food festival on the Seattle Center resulted in three fatalities and four injuries. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. local time and involved two shooters exchanging gunfire, authorities said. One suspect was taken into custody while a second remained at large, though officials indicated no ongoing threat to the public.
Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said officers quickly confronted one shooter, preventing further casualties. Seven people were shot in total; two victims died at the scene and a third, a woman, later died at Harborview Medical Center. A two-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries declined treatment.
The FBI’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives deployed agents to the scene, with Seattle police leading the investigation. Governor Bob Ferguson confirmed that a state SWAT team was dispatched at the request of local police.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots before fleeing the crowded area. One attendee, Nick Bate, said he initially thought the sounds were fireworks before people began running. Another, Leanne Coles, described the scene as chaotic as crowds rushed past the Space Needle.