Shooting at Seattle Food Festival Leaves Three Dead

SEATTLE — Following a shooting at a bustling food festival beneath Seattle’s Space Needle, police are now seeking a second suspect after three individuals lost their lives and four others, including a toddler, were injured. An earlier arrest had been made regarding another suspect.

It appears that two suspects exchanged gunfire on Sunday evening, and while one is still on the run, Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis stated at a news conference that there isn’t any ongoing threat to public safety.

Currently, police do not have a detailed description of the outstanding suspect.

“We’re still trying to figure this out,” Davis mentioned, adding that authorities hadn’t responded to inquiries early on Monday.

Two victims died at the scene, while a third later succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Reports indicate that the deceased include two males, aged 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman.

Among the four injured, which includes a 2-year-old boy, all were reported to be in stable condition. The remaining injured parties were adults. Davis noted he couldn’t confirm if any of the victims were connected to the incident.

The shooting took place around 6 p.m. Sunday during the closing hours of the Bite of Seattle, a three-day festival boasting numerous food and retail vendors.

Davis pointed out that dozens of officers were already monitoring the event, and some witnessed one of the suspects open fire. One individual surrendered on the scene while the other fled, prompting a search that bore no results.

A significant presence of police and emergency services quickly responded, leading to an evacuation of the area surrounding the large Seattle Center.

Faith Adia Hunter recalled being at a crepe stall with friends when the gunfire erupted, noting how close they were to the shooter. They sought refuge in the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum.

“We were right next to him when it started, so we bolted,” Hunter recounted. “We ran into the building with the crowd.”

Amid the chaos, many vendors abandoned their booths, rushing toward safety. Hours later, some returned to find out when they could recover their equipment and supplies.

Vendor Roberto Ramirez reported hearing what he thought were firecrackers before the panic set in, with people yelling about gunfire and scrambling for safety.

“Suddenly, everything was empty,” he said. “People were freaking out.”

After the initial surge of fear, new attendees arrived, oblivious to the incident unfolding, only to be instructed by police to exit the venue.

Estan Wakonabo described standing in line for a photo booth when, without warning, he felt a shove from behind. Upon turning, he noticed a crowd fleeing.

“People were hiding, pushing, and stumbling. I heard strollers falling,” he shared, explaining that’s when the gunfire began.

“Once I heard ‘pop, pop, pop,’ I knew it was gunshots,” he added.

After ensuring his girlfriend was safe, Wakonabo went back to the scene and saw numerous victims on the ground.

This festival, which started in 1982, typically draws around 350,000 attendees, as stated on its website.