Three Killed, Four Wounded by Shooter at Bite of Seattle Festival; Suspect in Custody

SEATTLE — Three people were killed and four others wounded, including a 2-year-old boy, when gunfire erupted Sunday evening at the annual Bite of Seattle food festival at Seattle Center.

The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. local time on July 26, 2026, near the fountain area and outside the Seattle Center Armory in the central grounds of the festival. Witnesses reported hearing rapid gunshots as large crowds of festival-goers panicked and fled. Seattle Police Department confirmed multiple shooting victims and shots fired at the Seattle Center, advising the public to avoid the area while officers secured the scene.

Authorities said they believe two people were shooting at each other, with bystanders caught in the crossfire. Officers already providing security at the event saw one person firing a weapon; that individual (a 15-year-old juvenile) surrendered and was taken into custody. A second suspect fled the scene and remained at large as of Monday updates, though police stated there was no ongoing threat to the public. Two guns were recovered. The 15-year-old was detained for investigation of firearms violations and first-degree assault and was expected to appear in court Monday; no formal homicide charges had been announced as of early Monday reports. Investigators continued working to identify any others involved.

Shooting suspect taken into custody by Seattle police at Seattle Center

Large numbers of police and emergency personnel responded near Sue Bird Court and Thomas Street. Guests were evacuated from the Seattle Center grounds, with some sheltered at the Seattle Armory. The Seattle Center Monorail was closed for the remainder of the day. Victims were transported primarily to Harborview Medical Center.

**The three people killed** were a 19-year-old man and a 44-year-old man (both pronounced dead at the scene) and a 56-year-old woman (who later died at the hospital). The four surviving wounded included the 2-year-old boy (who remained hospitalized in stable/satisfactory condition as of Monday) and adults (among them a 23-year-old man and a 39-year-old woman). Several adult patients were discharged by Monday. Injuries involved gunshot wounds to areas including the arm, leg, abdomen, and lower leg.

Witness accounts described scenes of chaos. Estan Wakonabo, 25, who was attending with his girlfriend, said the event was densely packed. When the shots rang out, people began trampling one another. “It was just pure chaos,” he said. He later returned and reported seeing several gunshot victims on the ground, including one covered with a yellow sheet near a T-Mobile tent.

Paul Skinner, 47, who operates a Filipino food booth called Crave, said he initially mistook the sounds for loud fireworks. “Then, the energy changed. Mobs of people started flooding back down. I just told our staff to get down,” he recounted. Another attendee, Kayla Carris, 22, said people suddenly rushed indoors: “Everyone just dropped everything and ran. Literally everyone.”

Videos shared on social media showed a person being escorted away in handcuffs amid the police response. Official details on motive remained limited. Seattle Police Department continued examining evidence and interviewing witnesses. A reward of up to $5,000 was offered by the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation for information leading to the identification and arrest of any outstanding suspect(s). Anyone with information was asked to call the Seattle Police Department Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

Mayor Katie Wilson called the incident “an act of horrific violence” and “an unbelievable tragedy.” Assistant Police Chief Tyrone Davis noted that officers on scene moved toward the gunfire and helped prevent additional victims.

**What is the Bite of Seattle?**

The Bite of Seattle is one of the city’s longest-running and most popular annual summer food festivals. Founded in 1982 by local restaurant owner Alan Silverman (then president of Festivals, Inc.), it began as a way to encourage people to dine out during the economic recession of the early 1980s. The inaugural event was held at Green Lake Park with 25 restaurants and an expected crowd of about 25,000; it drew roughly 75,000 attendees.

Since 1986, the festival has been based at Seattle Center, the 74-acre campus that is also home to the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and other cultural attractions. Over the decades it has grown substantially. It typically features hundreds of food and retail vendors (more than 200–300 in recent years), live music performances on multiple stages (Fountain Lawn, Mural, and Fisher Green stages), cooking demonstrations, craft beer and cider tastings, and family-friendly activities. A percentage of sales often supports Seattle Center operations.

Admission has traditionally been free. The 2026 edition ran Friday through Sunday, July 24–26, with hours generally from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Organizers expected more than 350,000 visitors across the three days; recent years have drawn crowds in the range of 280,000 to over 400,000. It was voted “Best Food Festival” in the United States in both 2016 and 2017. The event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in 2023 under new management.

The festival is known locally simply as “The Bite” and serves as both a major community gathering and a platform for independent chefs and food businesses to reach large audiences. Prohibited items typically include weapons, large bags, coolers, and drones, in line with Seattle Center campus rules.

This remains a developing story. Further official updates from the Seattle Police Department on the investigation, any additional charges, the second suspect, and victims’ conditions are expected as the inquiry progresses.