Seattle police search for third suspect after festival shooting leaves three dead
A gunfight at the Bite of Seattle festival on Sunday killed three people and injured four, including a toddler; one teenage suspect is in custody while authorities continue to look for a second shooter.
Seattle police said the shooting that erupted during the Bite of Seattle festival on Sunday evening appears to have been gang-related and that investigators are still looking for a possible third suspect. Mayor Katie Wilson and Assistant Police Chief Nicole Powell told a news conference that 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko Semo was one of at least two individuals who exchanged gunfire, and that a 15-year-old boy is being held on suspicion of first-degree assault and firearms violations.
The King County Medical Examiner identified the deceased as Semo, 19; Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; and Ashley Whitehead, 56. Four other victims, including a 2-year-old boy, were treated at Harborview Medical Center, with the toddler remaining hospitalized.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage from Seattle Center, although no cameras captured the exact location of the gunfire. Powell declined to comment on whether weapons recovered at the scene were reported stolen. Wilson said investigators are being cautious about releasing details as the investigation proceeds.
The Seattle Center has reopened to the public, and officials plan to provide another update at a Tuesday news conference. The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of any remaining suspect(s).