Seattle festival shooting leaves 3 dead as police hunt second suspect

Police are searching for a second suspect after two gunmen allegedly exchanged fire at Seattle's Bite of Seattle festival. The shooting killed three people, injured four others and sent crowds scrambling for shelter.

In Short

• Investigators believe two suspects exchanged gunfire during Sunday evening festival crowds
• One suspect surrendered at the scene after officers witnessed the firing
• Victims included two men and a woman, while four remained stable

Police in Seattle were searching on Monday for a second suspect after gunfire broke out at a crowded food festival near the Space Needle, killing three people and injuring four others, including a two-year-old boy. One suspect was arrested earlier.

Investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other on Sunday evening during the Bite of Seattle festival. Assistant Seattle Police Chief Tyrone Davis said there was no ongoing threat to the public, but police did not have a description of the suspect who remained at large.

Two people died at the scene and a third died at a hospital. Police identified them as two men aged 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman. The four injured people, including the toddler, were taken to hospital and were in stable condition early on Monday. Davis said he could not say if any of the victims were involved in the confrontation. "We're still trying to figure this out," he said.

The shooting happened at about 6 pm on Sunday during the final hours of the annual three-day Bite of Seattle festival, which features hundreds of food and retail vendors and performers. Davis said dozens of officers were on security duty at the event and some saw one of the suspects firing. One suspect surrendered at the scene, while the other ran away. Police searched the grounds but did not find the person. A large number of police and emergency crews then responded and began evacuating the Seattle Center campus.

Faith Adia Hunter said she and her friends had just got food from a crepe vendor when the shooting started and she realised the gunman was close to them. She and others took shelter in the nearby Seattle Children's Museum. "We were right next to him when it started, so we took off running," Hunter said. "So we took off running too into the building with the crowd."

In the confusion, many vendors ran towards the exits, leaving behind their food stalls. Hours later, some were still outside the police cordon, waiting to find out when they could return for their tents, food and cooking equipment. Roberto Ramirez, a vendor at the festival, said he first thought he was hearing firecrackers before people began shouting "shooter" and running in panic. "Suddenly everything was empty," he said. "People were freaked out." He added that after the first panic, new visitors kept arriving without knowing what had happened and were told by police to leave.

Estan Wakonabo said he and his girlfriend were waiting in line for a photo booth when he was pushed from behind and turned to see crowds rushing away. "People were hiding, were pushing, people were falling on the ground, baby strollers were falling," Wakonabo said, adding that he then heard gunshots. "Once I heard a pop, pop, pop, that's when I knew it was a shooter," he said. After taking his girlfriend to safety, he returned and saw several victims lying on the ground, he said.

The Bite of Seattle festival began in 1982 and, according to its website, draws about 350,000 people. The shooting during this year's event left three people dead, four others injured and police searching for a second suspect after one person was arrested.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends