Police are searching for a second suspect after shots were fired at a crowded food festival under Seattle’s Space Needle. The incident left three people dead and four others wounded, including a toddler. One suspect was arrested earlier.
Investigators suspect that the two individuals were exchanging gunfire on Sunday. Despite one suspect still at large, Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis assured the public that there is no continuing threat.
Davis informed a news conference on Sunday night that police have no description of the missing suspect. Efforts to reach the police for updates early Monday were unsuccessful.
Two individuals died at the scene. A third person died in a hospital. The deceased included two men, aged 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman. The four people injured, including a 2-year-old boy, were hospitalized and reported to be stable on Monday. The remaining injured individuals were adults.
Davis stated he could not confirm if any of the victims were part of the dispute. The shooting occurred at approximately 6 p.m. on Sunday during the final hours of the Bite of Seattle, an annual festival attracting numerous vendors, performers, and attendees.
Dozens of officers were present as security at the event. Some witnessed one suspect firing shots. One suspect surrendered, while the other escaped. Despite search efforts, the suspect remains at large.
We’re still trying to figure this out,Davis said.
A significant police and emergency response led to the evacuation of the Seattle Center area. Faith Adia Hunter recounted her experience: she had procured food from a vendor when the shooting started and found shelter at the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum.
“We were right next to him when it started so we took off running,” Hunter recounted. Numerous vendors likewise ran, leaving their stalls unattended. Hours later, some were outside police lines, waiting to retrieve their belongings.
Roberto Ramirez, another vendor, recounted that initial sounds resembled firecrackers. Panic ensued as people yelled “shooter” and fled. “Suddenly everything was empty,” he said. Even after the initial scare, some unaware visitors continued arriving and were turned away by police.
Estan Wakonabo, who was at the festival with his girlfriend, described getting pushed and seeing people flee after hearing shots. “Once I heard a ‘pop, pop, pop,’ that’s when I knew it was a shooter,” he said.
Wakonabo escorted his girlfriend to safety before returning to capture photos of the scene, which included multiple victims on the ground.
The Bite of Seattle festival, which began in 1982, typically draws 350,000 attendees as per its website.
Leave a Reply