Manhunt Continues After Deadly Shooting at Seattle Food Festival

Seattle police were on the hunt for a second suspect after a deadly shooting took place at a bustling food festival near the Space Needle. This incident resulted in three deaths and left four individuals injured, including a young child. One suspect was previously apprehended according to authorities.

Investigations suggest that the suspects engaged in a gunfight on Sunday. However, despite the escape of one suspect, Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis assured there was no ongoing danger to the public. Police did not have details to provide a description of the suspect at large.

“We’re still trying to figure this out,” Davis stated during a press conference. Early Monday communications from the police were unanswered. The victims were identified as two men aged 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman. The wounded included a 2-year-old boy and others, all in stable condition, the police confirmed. Davis remained uncertain if the victims were connected to the initial altercation.

The gunfire commenced around 6 p.m. Sunday during the Bite of Seattle, an annual food and entertainment event. The festival spans three days and attracts numerous vendors and performers. Despite heavy security, one suspect was observed firing by officers. One was taken into custody at the location while the second managed to escape. A detailed search of the Seattle Center grounds yielded no results.

An extensive police and emergency response led to the evacuation of the area. Witness Faith Adia Hunter recounted how she and friends sought refuge in the Seattle Children’s Museum after being in close proximity to the shooter.

“We were right next to him when it started so we took off running,” Hunter shared. “We took off running too into the building with the crowd.”

Vendors quickly forsook their stands amidst the disarray, with some lingering around the secured perimeter, waiting to reclaim their belongings. Roberto Ramirez, another vendor, initially mistook the gunshots for firecrackers before realizing the seriousness of the situation.

“Suddenly everything was empty,” Ramirez recalled. “People were freaked out.”

Despite the unfolding chaos, some people unaware of the events continued to arrive but were redirected by police. Estan Wakonabo, at the festival, described the ensuing panic as he and his girlfriend were caught amid the fleeing crowd.

“Once I heard a ‘pop, pop, pop,’ that’s when I knew it was a shooter,” Wakonabo mentioned. After securing his girlfriend, he returned to capture images and witnessed several victims on the ground.

The festival, inaugurated in 1982, reportedly draws around 350,000 attendees annually, based on its official website information.

Associated Press journalists Manuel Valdes, Lindsey Wasson, Annika Wolters, and Christopher Weber contributed to this report.