Three people were killed and several others wounded, including a toddler, after two people apparently started shooting at each other at a popular Seattle food festival near the city’s iconic Space Needle, authorities said.
The deadly Sunday-evening shooting at the Bite of Seattle, a free event that draws hundreds of thousands of guests each year, sent attendees running for their lives. A large group was seen knocking down a fence to escape after a volley of gunfire, the latest gruesome entry in the ever-expanding log of Americans victimized by gun violence while doing everyday activities.
Authorities responded to reports of a shooting just after 6 p.m. at the Seattle Center.
“There were about six or seven, multiple gunshots,” Justice Beitzel, who was eating with friends as a concert played nearby, told CNN’s Ben Hunte. “All of a sudden, I just saw people running towards us.”
Two people were declared dead at the scene. Another victim died after being taken to a local hospital, Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said late Sunday.
In emergency dispatch audio obtained by CNN, one person was heard requesting a “small child tourniquet” for a victim at the scene.
A 2-year-old boy was taken to Harborview Medical Center, the fire department said Sunday. By Monday morning, the toddler remained at the hospital in “satisfactory condition,” according to Susan Gregg, the hospital’s media relations director.
A few other victims were seen at local hospitals, including a 23-year-old man and 39-year-old woman who have since been discharged from Harborview, and a 27-year-old man who was released from nearby UW Medical Center – Montlake, Gregg added.
One suspect, described only as a “young person,” has been taken into custody. Authorities are still searching for a second person believed to be involved, according to Davis.
Earlier, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said two people were in custody, but later updated her statement.
Two people were believed to be shooting at each other, Davis said. Two weapons were recovered. The investigation is ongoing and “there is no outstanding threat to the community,” Davis said.
What prompted the shooting isn’t known. Authorities urged people who witnessed the shooting to come forward with any information that could be helpful for the investigation.
The shooting is one of at least 271 mass shootings in the US this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more victims are shot.
The Seattle Center describes itself as a civic, arts and family grounds space that attracts more than 12 million visitors each year for events across its 74-acre campus, which includes the Space Needle and the city’s largest arena. The Bite of Seattle Festival features hundreds of local vendors and live music performances, drawing 350,000 guests over three days, its website says.
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