A shooting at Seattle’s Bite of Seattle food festival on Sunday evening left three people dead and four others wounded, including a toddler, authorities said. Police arrested one suspect described as a young person and are continuing to search for another, as investigators work to determine what prompted the violence at one of the city’s major events.
The gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. at the Seattle Center, which was hosting the annual three-day Bite of Seattle festival. Thousands of people were attending the event near the city’s iconic Space Needle when multiple shots rang out. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and a third victim, a woman who had been in critical condition and undergoing surgery at Harborview Medical Center, later died from her injuries.
Police believe two gunmen were shooting at each other during the incident. One suspect surrendered after being confronted by officers working in the area. Officers prevented additional casualties through their quick response, according to Seattle Police Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis. The second suspect fled the scene and remains at large.
“There were two people who we believe were shooting at each other,” Davis said at a late-night news conference Sunday. “Officers were there within seconds. They performed emergency aid to the wounded until the Seattle Fire Department was on scene.”
A total of seven people were shot in the incident. The four wounded included a 2-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman, and a 23-year-old man who were transported to Harborview Medical Center and listed in stable condition. A 40-year-old woman with minor injuries declined transport to a hospital. Another person later arrived at University of Washington Medical Center with a gunshot wound. Hospital officials reported injuries to the arm, leg, abdomen and lower leg among those treated.
The suspect in custody is described as a “young person,” though authorities have not released additional details about their identity. Police did not discharge their weapons during the confrontation with that suspect. Two firearms were recovered at the scene. Investigators say they do not have a description of the outstanding suspect but do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.
“We’re still trying to figure this out,” Davis said, noting that there were no surveillance cameras in the immediate area where the shooting occurred. Police have urged witnesses to contact them at 206-233-5000 with any information about the incident or the outstanding suspect.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson called the shooting “an unbelievable tragedy, a horrific act of violence,” and expressed her sympathies for the victims and their families. She thanked first responders, event staff, bystanders who helped people reach safety, and hospital personnel who treated the wounded.
The Bite of Seattle is one of the city’s largest food and beverage events, drawing hundreds of vendors and performers and attracting an estimated 100,000 visitors daily. The three-day festival had been underway when the shooting occurred in the early evening hours.
Federal authorities, including agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were at the scene, though Seattle police are leading the investigation. Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state SWAT team was en route at the request of Seattle police. The Seattle Center was evacuated as emergency crews and additional police arrived at the scene.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as people fled the gunfire. Some initially thought the shots were fireworks before realizing the danger and running for cover. Several people took shelter in the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum.
The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, and authorities have not released information about what may have sparked the violence. Police said they are continuing their investigation and urged anyone with information to come forward.