Seattle police have arrested one suspect and are searching for another following a shooting Sunday evening at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle.
The incident left three people dead and four others wounded, local officials reported.
The gunfire erupted around 6 p. m.
during the final hours of the annual community event at the Seattle Center. Police and emergency crews responded in large numbers and evacuated the area.
Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis said detectives do not currently have a description for the second outstanding suspect.
Investigators believe the two individuals were shooting at each other and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Mayor Katie Wilson announced that officers took one person into custody. Wilson thanked the Seattle police officers who responded and took a suspect into custody.
Two victims died at the scene near the observation tower, while a third person later died at a hospital.
Four injured individuals were transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition, including a 56-year-old woman and a two-year-old boy.
A fifth person declined to go to the hospital, according to the Seattle Fire Department.
Hospital spokesperson Susan Gregg said the hospitalized victims suffered injuries to the arm, abdomen, or legs.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson condemned the violence and deployed State Patrol SWAT officers to assist local police.
“My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe,” Ferguson stated.
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal also expressed condolences on social media. “Our hearts go out to all those impacted by this senseless violence,” Jayapal wrote.
Festival attendees described immediate panic as shots rang out near food vendors and photo booths. Crowds fled toward buildings and the nearby Seattle Children's Museum.
Faith Adia Hunter recounted how she and her friends fled into a building after realizing a shooter was nearby.
“We were right next to him when it started so we took off running,” Hunter said.
She added that she and others sought shelter inside the Seattle Children's Museum with the crowd.
Vendor Roberto Ramirez said he initially heard sounds resembling firecrackers before realizing what was happening. “Suddenly everything was empty,” Ramirez said.
He added that people were freaked out as crowds frantically ran toward the exits.
Estan Wakonabo described a rush of people fleeing and falling to the ground before hearing gunshots.
“Once I heard a pop, pop, pop, that is when I knew it was a shooter,” Wakonabo said.
After escorting his girlfriend to safety, he returned to the scene and saw multiple victims on the ground.
The annual Bite of Seattle festival, which began in 1982, draws hundreds of food and retail vendors and thousands of attendees over its three-day schedule.
