Seattle authorities are searching for two unidentified men who illegally BASE jumped off the 605-foot Space Needle observation deck on Friday night around 8:50 p.
m. before fleeing the scene.
According to the Seattle Police Department, the suspects purchased tickets, entered the top viewing level, and put on helmets inside a restroom.
They then vaulted over the protective glass barriers to execute backflips and deploy parachutes.
Witnesses waiting nearby described the sudden disruption as the two men sprinted past visitors toward the outer perimeter.
"These two guys burst out of the bathroom, scared the h-- out of everybody," Jarreau said.
The thrill-seekers leaped toward the north facing Lake Union and landed safely at an unknown location below.
They evaded responding officers who arrived shortly after security reported the breach at 9:21 p. m.
"For the first two seconds, we didn't really know what the heck was going on, so everybody was scared," Jarreau said.
Another visitor at the observation deck recounted the confusion as the men pushed through the crowd toward the glass boundary.
"I was like, what the heck is going on, why are you pushing past me and my kid?"
Bri Ramos, who also witnessed the stunt, said.
Spectators initially feared an attack before realizing the suspects were equipped with parachute gear.
"The first two seconds I was scared, I thought they were doing something bad, so I got a really big surge of adrenaline, and then as soon as I saw the parachute, two seconds I was like, oh my god they're going to jump off," Jarreau said.
Onsite witnesses criticized the reckless nature of the leap from the landmark structure.
"It was illegal, that's for sure. It was a pretty brazen act," Jarreau said.
Officials from the landmark confirmed they are reviewing surveillance footage to assist law enforcement in identifying the suspects, who are described as white males in their late 20s facing trespassing charges.
"We are aware of an illegal incident at the Space Needle and are working closely with the Seattle Police Department," representatives for the Space Needle said in a statement.
Management noted that staff members are fully cooperating with law enforcement agencies examining the security breach.
"We are reviewing security footage and assisting with the active investigation," representatives for the Space Needle said in a statement.
In a separate incident at Seattle Center during the same weekend, first responders arrived at the scene of a shooting that left multiple people injured during the Bite of Seattle event.
"I heard bang, bang, bang, and I heard yelling, straight yelling," a witness reported.
Seattle police continue to investigate both cases as major public events draw crowds across the city.
