Seattle Festival Shooting: 3 Dead, 4 Hurt, Suspect at Large

Three people were killed and four others wounded, including a 2-year-old boy, when gunfire erupted at the Bite of Seattle food festival on Sunday evening, according to the Associated Press. Seattle police have one suspect in custody and are actively searching for a second individual believed to have been involved in the exchange of gunfire that sent panicked crowds fleeing beneath the Space Needle.

Background

The Bite of Seattle is an annual three-day food festival that began in 1982 and draws approximately 350,000 attendees to the Seattle Center, a 74-acre entertainment and cultural complex. The festival features hundreds of food and retail vendors, live performances, and family-friendly attractions. Dozens of police officers were providing security at the event when the shooting occurred in its final hours on Sunday evening.

What Happened

At approximately 6:00 p.m. PDT on July 26, outside the Seattle Center Armory building, two individuals exchanged gunfire, striking seven bystanders in the crowded festival area. The Seattle Police Department reported that officers who were already on the festival grounds heard the shots and responded within seconds, rendering emergency medical aid to the wounded.

Three victims died: a 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene, and a 56-year-old woman later succumbed to her injuries at Harborview Medical Center. Four others were hospitalized, including a 2-year-old boy who was reported in satisfactory condition as of Monday morning. Three additional victims — two men aged 23 and 27 and a 39-year-old woman — have since been discharged from the hospital.

Police Response and Investigation

Acting Police Chief Tyrone Davis praised the rapid response of officers at a Sunday night news conference.

“Our officers were there within seconds. They performed emergency aid to the wounded until the Seattle Fire Department was on scene,” Davis said, according to the official police statement. “Simultaneously, officers launched a search for the people responsible for this senseless violence.”

One suspect surrendered at the scene and was taken to police headquarters for questioning. A first court appearance for the arrested individual was anticipated Monday afternoon, according to Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

However, a second suspect remains at large. Police have not released a description of the outstanding individual. “We’re still trying to figure this out,” Davis said. Investigators from the department’s Homicide Unit and Gun Violence Reduction Unit are leading the probe. The Washington State Patrol SWAT team has been deployed by Governor Bob Ferguson to assist.

Despite the ongoing search, Davis emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Witness Accounts

The shooting caused immediate chaos among festival-goers who had gathered for what should have been a festive Sunday evening. Witnesses described scenes of panic and confusion as families scrambled for safety.

Faith Adia Hunter, a festival attendee, told the AP that she and her friends had just received food from a crepe vendor when the shooting began. “We were about to start eating, then heard someone yell something, then we saw people start to run. So we took off running, too,” she said, adding that she sheltered inside the nearby Seattle Children’s Museum.

Estan Wakonabo described the pandemonium as crowds desperately sought cover. “People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling,” Wakonabo said. “Once I heard a ‘pop, pop, pop,’ that’s when I knew it was a shooter.”

Roberto Ramirez, a vendor at the festival, said he heard what sounded like firecrackers before people began yelling “shooter” and running frantically. “Suddenly everything was empty. People were freaked out,” he said.

Broader Implications

The shooting at the Bite of Seattle is the latest in a series of mass shootings in the United States in 2026. The fact that it occurred at a family-friendly community event — where hundreds of thousands had gathered to enjoy food and entertainment — has heightened concerns about public safety at large-scale gatherings.

Seattle Center, originally built for the 1962 World’s Fair, is one of the city’s most visited destinations. The Pacific Science Center announced it would remain closed on Monday, and the Seattle Center Monorail was shut down following the incident. A candlelight vigil was planned for Monday night at the center’s International Fountain.

What’s Next

As of Monday, the investigation remains active. Police continue to seek the second suspect and are urging anyone with information to call the SPD tip line at 206-233-5000. The arrested suspect is expected to make a first court appearance at the King County Courthouse on Monday afternoon.

Key questions remain unanswered, including the motive for the exchange of gunfire, whether any of the victims were involved in the confrontation, and the identity of the suspect still at large. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant as the search continues.