Seattle’s famed Bite of Seattle food festival turned tragic over the weekend after shooting broke out near the Seattle Center underneath the iconic Space Needle, killing three and injuring four, including a two-year-old kid. One suspect has been apprehended by police, who are looking for a second person they think was involved in the shooting.
The incident happened at 6 p.m. local time Sunday during the closing hours of the annual three-day event that draws hundreds of thousands of tourists with food stalls, live music and family-friendly entertainment. Witnesses reported scenes of panic as gunfire sent festivalgoers scurrying for shelter, with many initially mistaking the rounds for fireworks before discovering they were in the thick of an active shooting.
Investigators suspect the shooting started when two people began shooting at each other in the middle of the throng at the festival, Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis said. Officers soon detained one suspect with the second fleeing the area and is at large. Police stated there is no ongoing threat to the public and they believe the shooting was not a random incident, despite the ongoing search.
Authorities reported two people died at the site and a third died later in hospital of injuries. Four others are in stable condition in hospital. The victims are a two-year-old boy and adults shot in the belly, limbs and legs.
Minutes thereafter, emergency personnel showed up and set up a wide security perimeter around the Seattle Center as ambulances carried casualties to surrounding hospitals. The gunshot also sent tourists and vendors ducking for cover inside surrounding buildings, including the Seattle Children’s Museum, while police hunted for the second suspect.
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Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson criticised the violence, characterising the incident as “an act of horrific violence” that spoilt an event meant to celebrate the city’s culture and community. She expressed her sympathies to the relatives of the victims and promised the city’s full assistance for the continuing inquiry. Gov. Bob Ferguson and other state officials also extended condolences and applauded the rapid reaction of emergency workers.
Detectives are studying surveillance video, interviewing witnesses and looking at forensic evidence to try to identify what led up to the incident. Authorities urged anyone who was at the festival and took images or videos during the incident to come forward and help detectives.
Founded in 1982, the Bite of Seattle is one of the largest food events in the Pacific Northwest and draws an estimated 350,000 guests each year. The shooting Sunday has raised public safety worries at large public gatherings across the United States, and is anticipated to spur a review of security procedures for future festivals in Seattle.
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