A festival turned into a scene of panic and bloodshed. At least three people were killed and several others were injured on Sunday evening in Seattle after gunfire erupted in the crowd during the well-known Bite of Seattle event near the Space Needle.
Tragic toll after the shooting
According to police, the incident happened at around 6:00 p.m., when two people allegedly began shooting at each other in the middle of the visitors. Panic broke out at the scene as hundreds of people ran to escape the bullets.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, while four others, including a 2-year-old boy, were taken to hospital. Later, another injured person arrived at a different hospital with a gunshot wound but did not survive, bringing the death toll to three.
Chaotic scenes and accounts of panic
Images shared on social media show people trying to flee in a hurry, even knocking down barriers to get out of the area. A major public event, filled with families and visitors, turned within minutes into a scene of chaos.
Bite of Seattle is considered one of the city’s biggest summer events and attracts about 350,000 visitors over the festival’s three days. The scale of the event makes the blow this incident has dealt to public safety in the area even more severe.
One arrested, another being sought
Police have announced the arrest of one suspect, described only as a young person. Meanwhile, the search continues for a second person believed to have been involved in the shooting.
According to authorities, two firearms were seized at the scene. The official account says there is currently no further danger to the community, while the motive for the clash remains unclear.
Reaction from US authorities
The operation involved Seattle police, firefighters, emergency crews, as well as FBI agents and other federal agencies. The presence of multiple agencies reflects the scale of alarm caused by the incident in one of the city’s busiest areas.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson described the incident as a terrible act of violence and said the community is trying to understand how an event intended for culture and entertainment ended in tragedy.
The investigation remains open, while many questions persist over how two armed individuals became involved in a gunfight amid a densely packed crowd of civilians.
The incident has brought renewed attention to the issue of security at large public events in the United States, especially when the toll of violence also affects very young children.