Three Killed, Four Injured In Shooting At Seattle Food Festival

Three Killed, Four Injured in Shooting at Seattle Food Festival

At least three people were killed and four others injured, including a two-year-old child, after a shooting erupted near the Seattle Center during the annual Bite of Seattle food festival, prompting a major police response and renewed concerns over gun violence in the U.S. city. The shooting occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time outside the Seattle Center Armory, where thousands had gathered for the popular festival near the iconic Space Needle. Seattle police said officers already assigned to the event responded within seconds after hearing gunfire and immediately began providing emergency aid to victims while securing the area. According to Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis, preliminary investigations indicate that two individuals exchanged gunfire, with bystanders caught in the crossfire. Two victims died at the scene, while a third later died at Harborview Medical Center. Four others were hospitalized in stable condition. Police arrested one suspect at the scene and recovered two firearms, while investigators continue searching for another person believed to have been involved in the shooting. Authorities said they do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public but urged anyone with information to contact investigators. The gunfire triggered panic among festival-goers, with witnesses describing scenes of chaos as people fled for safety, abandoned belongings, and sought shelter in nearby buildings. Emergency responders evacuated parts of the Seattle Center while police cordoned off the area for investigation. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the shooting as a “horrific act of violence,” expressing condolences to the victims and their families. Detectives from the Seattle Police Department’s Homicide Unit and Gun Violence Reduction Unit are investigating the motive behind the attack.