Credited from: ALJAZEERA
On Sunday evening, a mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival resulted in three fatalities and four injuries, including a toddler, during a chaotic scene at the Seattle Center near the iconic Space Needle. The shooting occurred around 6 PM local time as thousands enjoyed the festival, prompting immediate police response to evacuate the venue and investigate the incident, according to Reuters, Channel News Asia, and India Times.
Seattle Police confirmed the deaths of two men, aged 19 and 44, and one woman, aged 56, with the wounded including a two-year-old boy who is in stable condition. Four others were initially hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center, with two discharged and one in critical condition, as reported by BBC and Los Angeles Times.
Authorities believe the two suspects were engaged in a shootout, prompting Mayor Katie Wilson to express her concern over the rising gun violence in the city, calling it a "horrific act of violence." Reports indicate that a 15-year-old suspect was arrested, while police are actively searching for a second individual believed to be armed, as noted by Al Jazeera and Le Monde.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as festival-goers rushed for safety, while officers responded swiftly, some having witnessed the gunfire themselves. Videos capturing the chaotic moments showed attendees fleeing amidst the sound of gunshots, underscoring the severity of the situation that unfolded in front of families and children, reports India Times and Channel News Asia.