Three people have been killed and at least four others, including a toddler, injured after gunfire erupted during a popular food festival near Seattle’s iconic Space Needle, police in the United States have said.
The shooting happened at the Seattle Center, where thousands had gathered for the annual “Bite of Seattle” festival celebrating local businesses and food vendors.
Seattle Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis said officers believe two people exchanged gunfire before one suspect was arrested. Police are still searching for another suspect.
“There were two people who we believe were shooting at each other,” Davis said, adding that officers recovered two firearms at the scene.
He said there was “no outstanding threat to the community.”
Police confirmed that two victims died at the scene, while a third later died in hospital.
Among the injured were a toddler, a 23-year-old man, a 39-year-old woman and another woman who underwent surgery at Harborview Medical Center.
Another gunshot victim later arrived at the University of Washington Medical Center.
Davis said one of the injured later died from their wounds, while those who remained in hospital, including the toddler, were in a stable condition.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson said State Patrol SWAT officers had been deployed to support local police.
“My prayers are with the families of the victims, and the responders as they work to keep people safe,” he wrote on X.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson described the incident as “an act of horrific violence.”
“Our attention belongs to the people whose lives were taken, those fighting to recover, and the families beside them,” she said in a statement.
The mayor also praised officers who responded quickly and arrested one suspect.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as crowds fled after hearing repeated gunshots.
“At first, I thought there were fireworks, and then everybody flooded and ran past us,” witness Nick Bate told Seattle television station KIRO.
“We started running. I didn’t know. I didn’t look where the person was going. I just heard everything,” another witness said.
Authorities have launched an investigation as detectives continue efforts to identify and apprehend the second suspect.
