Seattle Food Festival Shooting Leaves Three Dead and Four Injured

Three people were killed and four others injured in a shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival on Sunday, as gunfire erupted near the city’s iconic Space Needle, according to multiple reports. The incident occurred during the annual event, which draws hundreds of thousands of attendees, and left the community in shock as authorities searched for a second suspect believed to be involved.

The shooting unfolded around 6 p.m. at the Seattle Center, where the festival was in its final hours. Witnesses described chaos as attendees fled the scene, with some taking shelter inside the Space Needle or nearby buildings. Estan Wakonabo, a festivalgoer, recounted hearing “pop, pop, pop” before realizing a shooter was nearby. “People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” he said, adding that he later saw multiple victims on the ground.

Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson condemned the violence, calling it an “act of horrific violence” that shattered the festival’s atmosphere of “culture, connection, and joy.” She emphasized the trauma faced by affected families and the broader community, stating, “No one should have to weigh the risk of being shot before attending an event.”

Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis confirmed that one suspect had been arrested, while a second remained at large. Authorities believe the two suspects were engaged in a confrontation, with one fleeing the scene after the shooting. No description of the second suspect was released, and police urged the public to come forward with information. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were involved in the investigation, though no details about the suspects’ motives or connections were disclosed.

The victims included three adults and a 2-year-old boy, according to reports. Two people died at the scene, and a third succumbed to injuries at a hospital. The injured, including the toddler, were hospitalized in stable condition, though one woman was reported in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center. Seattle Fire Department officials noted that a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries declined transport to the hospital.

Security at the festival had been described as robust, with dozens of officers present. However, a social media user had raised concerns the day before about the lack of bag checks or pat-downs for attendees. A TikToker known as Leebo said there was no “pat down” or bag checks for those walking onto the festival grounds Saturday, according to reports.

Roberto Ramirez, a vendor, said he initially mistook the gunfire for firecrackers before realizing the danger. “Suddenly everything was empty,” he said, describing the panic as people fled. Emergency crews evacuated the area, and vendors abandoned their stalls as the scene descended into turmoil. Faith Adia Hunter, who was near the shooting, said she and others fled to the Seattle Children’s Museum for safety. “We were right next to him when it started so we took off running,” she recalled. Many attendees later expressed confusion about the event’s sudden transformation into a scene of violence.

The Bite of Seattle, an annual three-day festival since 1982, typically attracts 350,000 visitors. The shooting has cast a shadow over the event, with some vendors still waiting hours later to retrieve their equipment. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that any victims were linked to the suspects, but no such connections were confirmed.

Surveillance cameras were absent from the immediate area of the shooting, complicating investigators’ efforts. Two firearms were recovered at the scene, but no further details about their origins or the suspects’ actions were provided. Police continue to search for the second suspect, with no indication of an ongoing threat to the public.