Police Search for Second Suspect After Seattle Festival Shooting Leaves Three Dead

Gunfire erupted around 6 p.m. Sunday in the waning hours of the Bite of Seattle, an annual three-day festival that draws hundreds of vendors and performers to the sprawling Seattle Center campus beneath the Space Needle (AP India). Dozens of officers were providing security at the event and some saw one of the suspects firing, Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis told a news conference Sunday night (AP India). One suspect surrendered at the scene, but the other fled, prompting a search that continued into Monday (AP India).

Two people died at the scene and a third died at a hospital. They were identified as two men, ages 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman (AP India). Four others were wounded, including a 2-year-old boy who was listed in satisfactory condition Monday; the other three injured — two men, ages 23 and 27, and a woman, 39 — were discharged, a hospital spokesperson said (AP India). Davis said investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other and, although one remained on the loose, there was no ongoing threat to the public (AP India). Police did not have a description of the outstanding suspect, and Davis could not say if any of the victims were involved in the confrontation (AP India).

Faith Adia Hunter said she and her friends had just gotten food from a crepe vendor when gunfire broke out. “We were about to start eating, then heard someone yell something, then we saw people start to run,” Hunter said. “So we took off running, too” (AP India). She and others found shelter in the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum. Roberto Ramirez, a vendor at the event, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers before people began yelling “shooter” and frantically running. “Suddenly everything was empty,” he said. “People were freaked out” (AP India). Estan Wakonabo said he and his girlfriend were waiting in line for a photo booth when he was shoved from behind and turned to see a rush of people fleeing. “People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” Wakonabo said, adding that was when he heard gunshots (AP India).

In the chaos, many vendors bolted toward the exits, abandoning their food stands. Hours later, some milled outside the police tape, wondering when they would be allowed to collect their tents, food and cooking gear (AP India). A candlelight vigil was planned Monday night at the center’s International Fountain (AP India). A first court appearance for the person arrested was anticipated Monday afternoon, said Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (AP India).