A tragic shooting at the popular Bite of Seattle food festival left two people dead and five others injured including a two-year-old boy on Sunday evening. The gunfire broke out around 6:00 p.m. at the Seattle Center campus near the Space Needle sending panicked attendees fleeing for safety.
According to the Seattle Fire Department two victims died at the scene. Emergency responders transported five individuals to Harborview Medical Center. Among the injured, a 56-year-old woman is in serious condition. The two-year-old boy a 23-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman are in stable condition, while a 40-year-old woman suffered minor injuries.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the shooting unfolded during the festival’s closing hours. Attendees and vendors quickly abandoned their stalls with many seeking shelter in nearby buildings like the Seattle Children's Museum.
A massive police response secured and evacuated the sprawling event campus. Washington Governor Bob Ferguson stated that State Patrol SWAT officers were deployed to assist local law enforcement. Authorities have not yet disclosed the exact location of the shooting within the venue or confirmed if any suspects are in custody.
The annual Bite of Seattle which began in 1982 typically draws over 350,000 visitors for a three-day celebration of food and community.
