Seattle authorities now believe at least three people were involved in a deadly shooting at the Bite of Seattle food festival, a major public event held near the Space Needle that drew large crowds over the weekend.
The shooting happened Sunday evening at Seattle Center, sending festivalgoers running for cover as gunfire erupted during the final hours of the annual event. Three people were killed and four others were injured, including a two-year-old boy, officials said.
A court filing made public Monday revealed that a 15-year-old suspect had been arrested and was being held in juvenile detention while authorities continue investigating. Because the suspect is a minor, officials did not release his name.
The filing also showed that police now believe there were at least three shooters or armed participants in the incident, rather than the two initially reported. Authorities identified the suspected participants as the arrested 15-year-old, a 19-year-old acquaintance who died at the scene, and at least one other unknown suspect.
TRENDING TODAY
Seattle police said they are still searching for more information about the third suspected person involved. Officials did not immediately provide a public description.
Nicole Powell, Seattle Police Department’s assistant chief of investigations, said investigators believe the shooting may have been gang-related and may have involved two groups firing at each other. That theory remains under investigation.
A judge ordered the 15-year-old held for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault. The King County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to receive the case from Seattle police later this week before making a charging decision.
The King County medical examiner identified the three people killed as Carlos Israel Sanchez Villalba, 44; Ashley Whitehead, 56; and Junior Cee Niko Semo, 19.
Sanchez Villalba’s family described him in an online fundraiser as a husband and father of three remembered for his kindness and willingness to help others. Authorities said he died from a gunshot wound to the torso.
Four other people were hospitalized after the shooting. Police said the injured included a two-year-old boy, who was listed in satisfactory condition Monday. The other injured victims — two men, ages 23 and 27, and a 39-year-old woman — were later discharged from the hospital, according to a hospital spokesperson.
The violence unfolded as crowds filled Seattle Center for the Bite of Seattle, a long-running food festival that features hundreds of vendors, performers and visitors. The event takes place near some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, including the Space Needle.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as gunfire broke out. Some people rushed into nearby buildings for shelter, while others ran from the park. One witness said she and her friends had just bought food when they heard shots and fled into the Seattle Children’s Museum with others.
A vendor said the first sounds resembled firecrackers before people began shouting that there was a shooter. Within moments, the festival area emptied as attendees escaped.
Vendors were allowed back Monday morning to collect equipment and food that had been abandoned during the panic. A candlelight vigil was planned at Seattle Center’s International Fountain.
The Bite of Seattle began in 1982 and usually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors over three days. The shooting has now turned one of the city’s signature summer events into the focus of a major police investigation.
The case also adds to the national debate over gun violence. According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has recorded more than 270 mass shootings so far this year. The archive defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are wounded or killed, not including the shooter.
Some mass shootings involve targeted attacks, while others injure or kill bystanders who happen to be nearby. The Seattle case appears to involve people firing at each other in a crowded public space, but investigators have not yet released a complete account of what led to the violence.
Why It Matters
The shooting happened at a crowded family-friendly festival, showing how quickly public events can become dangerous when gunfire erupts in packed spaces.
It also raises questions about youth access to firearms, gang-related violence and security planning for large public gatherings. A two-year-old child being among the injured adds to public concern over innocent bystanders caught in shootings.
What Comes Next
Seattle police will continue searching for at least one additional suspect and reviewing evidence from the scene, including witness statements and possible surveillance footage.
Prosecutors are expected to decide whether to file formal charges against the 15-year-old suspect after receiving the case from police. Investigators will also work to determine whether the shooting was gang-related and whether additional arrests are likely.
Court documents indicate that at least three suspects were involved in the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting.
Court documents say three suspects were involved in the deadly Bite of Seattle shooting, including one who was killed. https://t.co/KhljqpBHcU
— FOX 13 Seattle (@fox13seattle) July 28, 2026
