Seattle Center shooting leaves 3 dead, 4 injured; suspect in custody, another sought
Three people were killed and four others were injured in a shooting that disrupted a popular food festival near Seattle's iconic Space Needle on Sunday evening, according to police. One suspect is in custody and authorities are actively searching for a second individual believed to have exchanged gunfire with the first.
Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis told reporters late Sunday that officers working in the area responded immediately after the shots rang out around 6 p.m. local time. "Our officers rushed toward the gunfire and confronted one of the shooters, which likely prevented additional casualties," Davis said. Two firearms were recovered at the scene.
The seven victims include a 56-year-old woman who later died at Harborview Medical Center after undergoing surgery. Two other individuals were pronounced dead at the scene despite CPR efforts by first responders. The surviving victims — a two-year-old boy, a 39-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries — are all in stable condition, Davis confirmed. The 40-year-old initially declined medical transport but later presented herself at the University of Washington Medical Center.
The incident unfolded during the annual Bite of Seattle event at the Seattle Center, a bustling tourist hub that houses the Space Needle, the Climate Pledge Arena, and numerous cultural attractions. Witnesses described chaos as festival-goers fled in all directions. "At first, I thought it was fireworks, and then everybody just flooded and ran past us," Nick Bate told KIRO-TV. Another witness, Leanne Coles, said, "We ran through the garden and ducked, and then kept running with the crowd. I kept looking up for the Space Needle to get my bearings. It was really scary."
Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives deployed to assist local authorities, though Seattle police are leading the investigation. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson announced that the state SWAT team was en route at the department's request. Davis emphasized that while one suspect remains at large, there is no indication of an ongoing threat to public safety.
The shooting has reignited conversations about gun violence in public spaces, particularly at family-friendly community events. The Seattle Center, typically a lively gathering point for residents and tourists alike, is now the site of a tragedy that underscores the persistent challenge of preventing such incidents. Local leaders are expected to review security protocols for future large-scale events as the investigation continues.