On Sunday evening around 6 p.m., a shooting took place at the Bite of Seattle food festival near the Space Needle in Seattle, resulting in 3 deaths and 4 injuries. The police confirmed on Monday that a 15-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene, and efforts are underway to apprehend another suspect who is currently on the run.
Assistant Chief Tyrone Davis of the Seattle Police Department stated that the two suspects were shooting at each other in the crowd. Dozens of officers on duty witnessed the incident, with the 15-year-old suspect surrendering at the scene while the other fled amidst the chaos.
According to Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecutor’s Office, the 15-year-old suspect has been detained in a juvenile detention center for alleged violations of gun regulations and first-degree assault, and is expected to appear in court on Monday afternoon.
The incident resulted in the tragic deaths of two males (aged 19 and 44) and one female (aged 56). The 4 injured individuals, including a 2-year-old boy, are in stable condition after receiving medical treatment, with 3 adult victims already discharged while the boy remains under observation.
At the time of the incident, a large number of police officers and emergency personnel were deployed on-site, and the surrounding areas of Seattle Center were evacuated.
Witness Faith Adia Hunter told the Associated Press that she and her friends had just gotten food from a crepe stall when the shooting occurred.
“We were about to start eating when we heard someone shout something, and then we saw everyone running,” Hunter said. “So we ran too.”
“When the shooting started, we were right next to him, so we just ran,” Hunter added.
Hunter mentioned that amidst the chaos, she and others sought refuge in the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum. Many vendors abandoned their food stalls and headed towards the exits.
Vendor Roberto Ramirez stated that when someone started yelling “active shooter” and people panicked and fled, he heard sounds resembling fireworks.
“All of a sudden, everywhere was empty,” he said. “Everyone was terrified.”
Authorities have not yet released a description of the suspect at large but emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public. They are actively working to clarify the details of the incident and determine the reasons for the conflict between the two parties.