Three people were killed and four others, including a two-year-old boy, were wounded after a mass shooting erupted during a crowded food festival in Seattle, a major city in the US state of Washington, authorities said on Sunday.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES
A festive summer gathering in Seattle turned into a scene of terror on Sunday after a mass shooting at the popular Bite of Seattle food festival left three people dead and four others wounded, including a two-year-old child, authorities said.
The shooting unfolded around 6 p.m. at Seattle Center, where thousands of people had gathered for the annual food festival. Witnesses described hearing a barrage of gunfire before crowds stampeded through the 74-acre venue, seeking shelter behind buildings, food stalls and stages.
Seattle police said one suspect was taken into custody, while at least one other suspected gunman remained at large late Sunday. Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said investigators were still working to determine how many shooters were involved.
“There may be more,” Davis told reporters. “We’re still trying to figure this out.”
Police said the gunfire appeared to have been exchanged between individuals, suggesting the suspects were shooting at one another. Two firearms were recovered at the scene, but investigators had not identified a motive by Sunday night.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson called the attack a tragedy, saying families were enduring “the worst moment of their lives” after violence shattered an event built around “culture, connection and joy.”
Emergency responders treated several victims at the scene before transporting four people with gunshot wounds to Harborview Medical Center. The injured included a two-year-old boy, a 23-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and a 56-year-old woman. A 40-year-old woman suffered minor injuries.
Hospital officials initially said the 56-year-old woman underwent surgery in critical condition, while the remaining patients were listed in satisfactory condition.
Witnesses recounted scenes of panic as festival-goers scrambled for safety.
“It was just pure chaos,” said Estan Wakonabo, who was attending the festival with his girlfriend. He said the crowds were so dense that people trampled one another while trying to escape.
Another attendee, Kayla Carris, said people began screaming and rushing into nearby buildings moments after the shots were fired.
“Everyone was just throwing stuff and running,” she said.
Michael Girardi, who had been near one of the music stages, said he saw paramedics treating a wounded toddler.
“The mother was in anguish,” he said.
Inside the nearby Pacific Science Center IMAX theater, moviegoers watching The Odyssey were instructed to raise their hands and leave the building after police officers entered with weapons drawn. The theater closed for the remainder of the day as officers secured the area.
Harborview Medical Center was placed on partial lockdown as a precaution because authorities were uncertain whether additional suspects remained at large.
Seattle police urged anyone with information or video footage to contact investigators as they continued searching for suspects and reconstructing the events leading up to the shooting.
The Bite of Seattle festival, one of the city’s largest annual events, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and features hundreds of food vendors, retailers and live music performances. Last year’s festival drew more than 280,000 attendees.
The shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents at Seattle Center over the years, including previous shootings during the Folklife Festival and other large public gatherings.
The latest attack is expected to renew debate over public safety and gun violence in the United States, where mass shootings continue to occur at concerts, festivals, schools and other public spaces despite repeated calls for stronger measures to prevent them.
