Seattle Food Festival Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 4 Injured; One Suspect in Custody, Another at Large
Three people were killed and four others wounded Sunday night in what authorities described as a shootout between two gunmen at the Bite of Seattle, an annual food festival drawing more than 350,000 visitors to the city's Seattle Center complex.
Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis said during a late-night press conference that one suspect surrendered after being confronted by officers, while a second fled the scene and remains the subject of an active search. “We believe that we have no outstanding threat to the community,” Davis added, though he cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing.
Seven people were struck by gunfire, Davis said. Two died at the scene near the Space Needle, a landmark built for the 1962 World’s Fair. A third victim later died at Harborview Medical Center, the region’s top trauma center. Among the injured was a toddler, who was taken to the hospital along with three adults suffering gunshot wounds to the arm, leg, abdomen, and lower leg. Hospital spokesperson Susan Gregg said that one woman was initially in critical condition and undergoing surgery; it was unclear whether she was the third fatality. Other survivors—a pediatric male, a 23-year-old man, and a 39-year-old woman—were listed in satisfactory condition.
A 40-year-old woman with minor injuries declined transport to a hospital, according to Seattle Fire Department spokesperson Grace Nuñez. An additional victim later arrived at the University of Washington Medical Center with a gunshot wound, Davis said, noting all injured individuals had been stabilized.
Davis described the suspect taken into custody as “a young person” and confirmed that he was the only individual officers saw firing a weapon. Police did not discharge their own firearms during the confrontation. Two guns were recovered at the scene.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson called the incident “an unbelievable tragedy, a horrific act of violence,” offering condolences to victims and their families. In a statement, she thanked first responders—including firefighters, event staff, and bystanders—who helped people to safety, as well as hospital personnel who treated the wounded. The Seattle field office of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that special agents were assisting in the investigation. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said federal resources were being coordinated.
The shooting erupted as the three-day festival was wrapping up its final evening. Witnesses described chaos and panic. Estan Wakonabo, who was waiting in line for a photo booth with his girlfriend, said the crowd suddenly began running frantically. “It was a stampede,” he told NBC affiliate KING. “I counted eight” people on the ground who appeared wounded. Paul Skinner, operating a food truck booth for Crave, initially heard what sounded like firecrackers. “When the crowd started moving quickly in herds, you knew something was happening,” he said. “We all got down and took cover.” Isaiah Flores Sanches described the shift from a joyful atmosphere to horror, saying, “I seen people on the floor trying to take cover.”
The Bite of Seattle has long been a popular, free-admission event showcasing the region’s culinary scene. Davis noted that the festival had experienced no significant security issues in recent years. The shooting, however, underscores persistent concerns about gun violence at public gatherings across the United States, where mass shootings have become a recurring flashpoint in the national debate over firearm regulations. Seattle Center, home to the iconic Space Needle and structures built for the 1962 World’s Fair, now joins a growing list of event venues touched by such tragedies.
Organizers of the Bite of Seattle did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The investigation continues, with police urging anyone with information to come forward.