Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said police had two suspects in custody and called the shooting a “horrific act of violence.” The shooting took place near the city’s iconic Space Needle.
“Guns don’t shoot, people shoot.”
President Trump vows to defend Second Amendment: “These things are terrible, but you can’t shoot them. It’s the people who shoot them. It’s, you know, words.”
Seattle police are investigating a shooting that left two people dead and five others injured, including a young child, near the city’s iconic Space Needle.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said in a statement that police had two suspects in custody after the shooting.
“What happened today at Seattle Center was a horrific act of violence,” Wilson said. “The affected families are living through the worst moments of their lives, and the entire community is trying to understand how a gathering built around culture, connection, and joy ended in a shootout.
“No one should consider the risk of a shooting before attending an event, gathering with friends, or experiencing their city,” she says.
The shooting occurred at Seattle Center, a 74-acre entertainment and cultural complex just northwest of downtown Seattle. Seattle Center hosted the Bite of Seattle food festival this weekend.
Founded in 1982, Bite of Seattle has been a Northwest summer tradition for more than 40 years, featuring more than 130 food and beverage vendors, live cooking demos, live music, and other activities.
The Seattle Fire Department told USA TODAY that the shooting occurred around 6 p.m. PT, and despite lifesaving efforts, two people were pronounced dead at the scene.
Four other people were taken to hospital for treatment in serious to stable condition, firefighters said, and another person, a 40-year-old woman with minor injuries, refused transport for treatment.
Other victims include a 56-year-old woman, a 39-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man and a 2-year-old boy. The fire department said the ages of the injured are approximate and may change with further information.
USA TODAY has reached out to police for more information.
“We know that many people who were not physically injured will be living with what they went through today for a long time,” Wilson said. “This includes witnesses, workers, first responders, and everyone waiting to know if their loved one is safe.”
“It was just pure chaos.”
Estan Waconabo, 35, told The Seattle Times he was at Bite of Seattle with his girlfriend when shots rang out.
“It was total chaos,” Wakonabo told the media, saying he witnessed people stomping each other during the scuffle and then saw several victims shot on the ground.
Later in the evening, Gov. Bob Ferguson wrote in a post on X that the Washington State Patrol SWAT team was on its way to assist at the request of Seattle police.
“My prayers are with the families of the victims and the responders who are working tirelessly to keep everyone safe,” Ferguson wrote.
In a post on X, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called the shooting “senseless violence” and said local and state leaders, including Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Ferguson, continue to monitor the fluid situation.
“Thank you to SPD law enforcement and the first responders who worked so hard on the scene,” Jayapal wrote. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this senseless violence. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Multiple other local, state and federal agencies also responded to the scene, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“Gun violence changes families forever, and the trauma extends far beyond the people who were shot. In the coming days, we will reveal what happened and be transparent with the public about what we have learned,” Wilson said. “Tonight, our focus is on those whose lives were taken, those who are fighting to get back on their feet, and the families who stand by their side.”
“Seattle grieves with you. We stand with you in the difficult days ahead,” she said.
Contributor: Zachary Fletcher of the Kitsap Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
