Seattle Food Festival Shooting: Three Dead, Suspect at Large
Three people have been killed and several others injured in a shooting at a food festival near the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington, on Sunday evening. Police reported that two suspects were shooting at each other. One suspect is in custody, while the other remains at large, though officials have stated there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The incident occurred around 6:00 p.m. local time (01:00 GMT) during the final day of the annual Bite of Seattle festival, a three-day free event that draws approximately 350,000 visitors each year. The festival is held near the iconic Space Needle, a major tourist attraction in the city's downtown core.
Two deaths were confirmed at the scene, and a third victim later died in hospital. Among the injured is a two-year-old boy, officials said. The exact number of injuries has not been released.
Videos shared on social media showed people crouching on the ground, taking cover behind pillars and merchandise shelves in the Space Needle's lobby as shots rang out. Witnesses described hearing multiple shots and fleeing the area.
"At first, thought there were fireworks, and then everybody flooded and ran past us," Nick Bate told a local TV station affiliated with CBS News, the BBC's US partner. Leanne Coles, another witness, said she used the Space Needle to orient herself as the crowd fled. "Everybody started running, and so we just ran too, and we ran through the garden and we ducked and we decided to keep running with the crowd," she said.
Faith Adia Hunter told the Associated Press that one of the shooters was near her and her friends. "We were right next to him when it started so we took off running. So we took off running too into the building with the crowd," she said, referring to the Seattle Children's Museum, where they sought shelter.
Police are investigating the incident and have not released details about the suspects or a possible motive. The festival has been suspended indefinitely. The area around the Space Needle remains closed to the public as the investigation continues.
