Three Killed in Seattle Festival Shooting as Police Arrest One Suspect, Hunt for Another

A festive weekend at Seattle’s popular Bite of Seattle food festival ended in tragedy after gunfire erupted near the Seattle Center beneath the iconic Space Needle, leaving three people dead and four others injured, including a two-year-old child. Police have arrested one suspect and are searching for a second person believed to have been involved in the shooting.

The shooting occurred at about 6 p.m. local time on Sunday during the closing hours of the annual three-day festival, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors with food vendors, live music and family-friendly entertainment. Witnesses described scenes of panic as gunfire sent festivalgoers running for cover, with many initially mistaking the shots for fireworks before realising they were in the middle of an active shooting.

According to Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis, investigators believe the incident began when two individuals exchanged gunfire in the crowded festival grounds. Officers quickly arrested one suspect, while the second fled the scene and remains at large. Despite the ongoing search, police said there is no continuing threat to the public and believe the shooting was not a random attack.

Authorities confirmed that two victims died at the scene, while a third later succumbed to injuries in hospital. Four others remain hospitalised in stable condition. Among those injured is a two-year-old boy, while the remaining victims are adults who sustained gunshot wounds to the abdomen, arms and legs.

Emergency responders rushed to the scene within minutes, establishing a large security perimeter around the Seattle Center as ambulances transported victims to nearby hospitals. The shooting also forced visitors and vendors to shelter inside nearby buildings, including the Seattle Children’s Museum, while police searched for the second suspect.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the violence, describing the incident as “an act of horrific violence” that shattered an event intended to celebrate the city’s culture and community. She extended condolences to the victims’ families and pledged the city’s full support for the ongoing investigation. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson and other state leaders also expressed sympathy and praised the swift response of emergency personnel.

Detectives are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses and examining forensic evidence to determine what led to the shooting. Authorities have appealed to anyone who attended the festival and captured photographs or videos during the incident to come forward and assist investigators.

The Bite of Seattle, first launched in 1982, is one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest food festivals, drawing an estimated 350,000 visitors annually. Sunday’s shooting has reignited concerns about public safety at major public events across the United States and is expected to prompt a review of security measures for future festivals in Seattle.