The Seattle food festival shooting on Sunday left three people dead and four others injured near the Space Needle, according to authorities. One suspect was taken into custody at the scene, and investigators said a second person may have been involved and had not been arrested as of late Sunday.
Seattle food festival shooting under investigation
Officials said the gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. at Seattle Center, the civic park surrounding the Space Needle that hosts the popular annual food event. Police officers already on site located a suspected shooter who surrendered and was arrested.
Authorities described the individual only as a young person and did not specify whether the suspect is an adult or a juvenile. Two firearms were recovered in the park.
Witnesses described panic as crowds fled. One attendee recounted grabbing her family and hiding under a performance stage before safely evacuating, adding that leaving the park was chaotic.
Police said they were still determining the role of a second suspected shooter. Preliminary information indicated two people may have been firing at each other, though investigators cautioned that the details remain under review.
Victims and response from officials
According to police and hospital officials, three people were killed, with two pronounced dead at the park and a third dying at a hospital. Four additional victims, including a toddler, sustained gunshot wounds to their arms, legs, abdomen, and lower back.
A hospital spokesperson said those injured were in satisfactory condition. Washington’s governor, a member of Congress, and the mayor of Seattle visited the scene late Sunday to share updates and condolences with victims’ families.
Seattle’s mayor called the violence at Seattle Center an “unbelievable tragedy” and a horrific act. The Seattle Police Department said it is receiving assistance from the Washington State Patrol and the FBI.
The park was closed and is expected to remain shut for some time. Investigators asked the public to provide video or other evidence, noting there were no surveillance cameras covering the precise location of the shooting.
Washington’s governor, a member of Congress, and the mayor of Seattle visited the scene late Sunday to share updates and condolences with victims’ families, echoing calls from other recent high-profile cases, including the denied release in the Steven Burns parole hearing, for broader reforms and community support.